Control element, especially a pneumatic valve

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a control element for media, for instance, a pneumatic valve or a hydraulic valve, comprising a valve body in which one or several channels are arranged, at least one moving element arranged in a channel and means for carrying out a relative movement of and/or deforming the moving element. The means are directly arranged on and/or directly act upon the moving element.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Austrian applicationNo. A 220/98, filed on Feb. 6, 1998. Applicant also claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §120 of PCT/AT99/00030, filed on Feb. 4, 1999. Theinternational application under PCT article 21 (2) was not published inEnglish.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to control elements.

2. The Prior Art

Control elements for media are known in many varieties, in particularpneumatic valves which consist of a valve body that has a plurality ofopenings and bores or channels. A control element is located in at leastone bore or channel, which releases or closes one or several bores orchannels depending on the switching position. Such a control element islinearly and relatively movably controlled in a channel and has anarmature that projects from the body of the valve into a driving device.Such a means for the relative movement of moving elements consists of acoil, to which current is admitted, and which by means of magnetic forcemoves the armature and thus the moving element in the bore or thechannel. In addition to the drawback that such a structure comprises amultitude of individual components, which has a negative effect on themanufacture and assembly of such control elements, the high component ofmoving mass is an additional drawback, which in particular increases theswitching time of such control elements. This in turn leads tounfavorable or uneconomical cycle times especially in connection withautomated assembly installations.

The invention, furthermore, also relates to means for the relativemovement between a moving element and a valve body.

Such means, which are known, are formed by coils, which are manufacturedby winding a thin conductor on a cylindrical body. The body has a bore,with a cylindrical armature arranged therein. Said armature is connectedwith the moving element via a connecting element. The coil, i.e. thebody provided with the winding of a thin conductor, and the part of thearmature projecting into the bore of said body, are mounted in thisconnection outside of a control element. The drawback of such a means issubstantiated by the fact that the increased mass of the moving element,such mass being increased by the armature, also prolongs the timerequired for the relative movement. If one wants to reduce in connectionwith such a means the required time, this can be achieved only byincreasing the energy, which has an adverse effect on the operatingcosts and the useful life of such means.

The invention, however, also concerns a moving element.

Such moving elements are usually formed by pistons, which permit shortswitching times by virtue of their mass.

Finally, the invention also concerns a method of producing a relativemovement between a moving element and a valve body, whereby knownmethods effect such a relative movement by exerting a tensile force or aforce of pressure on the moving element, such forces being produced bygenerating electromagnetic forces acting on an intermediate element,which disadvantageously increases the switching times because of themass of the intermediate elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a control elementthat comprises a low number of individual components; a means for therelative movement between a moving element and a valve body; a movingelement for a control element; and a method of generating a relativemovement, which permit the shortest possible switching times and whichcan be realized with the smallest possible dimensions.

The object of the invention is achieved by the present invention. Thesurprising advantage in this connection is that the switching time andthe kinetic energy are reduced by the arrangement and design of themeans as defined by the invention, through which a substantially reducedcycle time and lower operating costs are realized especially inconnection with automated manufacturing installations.

Advantageous is in this connection a further development of theinvention, by which the operating costs and in particular the energycosts are reduced.

However, advantageous is also an embodiment, through which it is madepossible to provide the control element with a small structural size.

A design variation offers the advantage that the structural size of thecontrol element can be reduced further, as well as the possibility ofactuating the control element in a rapid manner.

However, possible are also the variations, through which components ofthe control element are saved and the manufacturing costs of the controlelement are consequently reduced accordingly.

Favorable, however, is also a further development of the invention, bywhich media are prevented from exiting from the transmission element.

A design variation is advantageous because the generation of kineticenergy is facilitated in this manner in a simple way.

A design variation is advantageous because it permits building thecontrol element in a compact form.

A further development of the invention offers the advantage thatstandard elements can be used for the structure of the control element,so that the manufacturing costs of the control element can besubstantially reduced.

Favorable, however, is also a design variation because it makes itpossible to individually, i.e. separately control the actors that areactuated by the control element or control elements.

Possible is also a further development, through which wear is reduced ina simple way and the manufacturing and maintenance costs areconsequently reduced.

A design variation is advantageous because the moving element can bepositioned with greater accuracy, and precise coordination of theswitching times in the switching routes is facilitated.

A design variation is advantageous in that it is characterized by highflexibility with respect to the individual switching possibilities ofthe control element.

The further development offers the advantage that media are preventedfrom circulating when the moving element is in its closing position.

A further possibility is described, through which the structural size ofthe control element can be reduced further.

Advantageous is also a design variation, through which a doublefunctionality of the control element is achieved with respect to thecontrol of the flow and in regard to exact positioning possibilities.

It describes an advantageous variation that permits even morepositioning accuracy of the control element or moving element.

Possible is also a further development of the invention, which providesa line connection with stop means which, when energy is admitted, exertan electromagnetic force on the moving element and thereby lock thelatter in a predetermined position.

The design variation offers the advantage that line connections can beinstalled that will not obstruct the relative movement of the movingelement.

In the embodiment, a line connection to the means is established in asimple way.

Favorable, however, is also a further development of the invention,through which it is possible to prevent an undesireable relativemovement of the moving element resulting from pressure admission.

The features specified facilitate the installation of the controlelement in an advantageous way.

Advantageous, however, is also a design variation, through which aspring effect is achieved, so that additional means for the relativemovement can be saved.

The further development of the invention represents advantageousmeasures, through which the structural size of the control element canbe minimized further.

It describes a favorable variation through which any unintentionalrelative movement of the moving element is prevented.

A further development is advantageous in that free mobility of themoving element is assured in the released state of the holding and/orlocking device.

It describes an advantageous design variation through which the energyrequirement of the holding and/or locking device is reduced bycontrolling the heating elements in a way occurring in the form of astar.

Favorable embodiments are described, through which the volume of theflow passing through the control element can be varied in a simple way.

Possible, however, is also a variation, through which a correspondingtransmission element can be associated with each heating element, andthe control element can be easily installed in this way.

An embodiment is advantageous in that a line connection can be made in asimple way, and in that the installation or removal of the controlelement is facilitated further in this manner.

Advantageous in this connection is a further development, through whichthe manufacture of the control element is facilitated further.

The tightness and the centering of the moving element are assured in asimple manner by the design variation.

Favorable design variations are described, through which automaticresetting of the moving element is achieved when the volume of the coverchanges.

However, possible is also a further development of the invention,through which a multitude of switching possibilities are created thatare independent of each other, and moving elements are not influenced bymeans for other moving elements.

Advantageous is a variation, through which any unintentional axialmovement of the moving element is prevented.

Advantageous in this connection is an embodiment, through which elasticresetting of the holding and/or locking device is achieved.

Another favorable variation is achieved, through which the holdingand/or locking device can be reset by means of current.

The embodiment provides for a desirable elastic deformation of theholding and/or locking device, which makes locking or cancellation ofthe lock easy.

However, the object of the invention is achieved also by the featuresdescribed. The advantage in this connection is that no additionalelements have to be mounted on the outside of the control element, whichmeans the dimensions and structural sizes of such means or controlelements can be reduced.

The object of the invention, however, is achieved also by the featuresdescribed. The surprising advantage gained in this connection is thatthe moving element has only a low amount of mass, which means switchingpositions can be changed in the shortest possible time.

Advantageous is in this connection the design variation, through whichan over-dead point position of the moving element is created and anyautomatic change of the switching position is prevented.

The further development of the invention is advantageous in that goodtightness is assured in the respective switching position.

Favorable further developments of the invention are described, whichassure movement of the moving element with low energy expenditure.

Finally, the object of the invention is achieved also by the featuresdescribed. It is advantageous in this connection that the kinetic forcecan be generated directly within the zone of the moving element, theresult being a reduction of switching times.

Advantageous is in this connection also a design variation, throughwhich switching times can be reduced further.

Advantageous is a further development of the invention in that itreduces the energy expenditure.

Possible is finally a design variation, through which it is possible toachieve exact positioning of the moving elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater detail in the following with thehelp of the exemplified embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional face view of a control element as defined bythe invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional face view of another design variation of a controlelement as defined by the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the control element cut along the linesIII—III in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a face view of a moving element of the control element asdefined by the invention.

FIG. 5 shows another design variation of a control element as defined bythe invention, shown by a sectional face view.

FIG. 6 shows the control element as defined by the invention cut alonglines VI—VI in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows another design variation of the control element as definedby the invention, by a sectional view.

FIG. 8 shows another design variation of the control element as definedby the invention, by a sectional face view.

FIG. 9 shows the control element with a section along lines IX—IX inFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows another design variation of the control element as definedby the invention, by a sectional face view.

FIG. 11 shows the control element with a section along lines XI—XI inFIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows the control element with a section along lines XII—XII inFIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a top view of a means for the relative movement.

FIG. 14 shows the means with a section along lines XIV—XIV in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 shows a means and a moving element by a sectional face view.

FIG. 16 shows another design variation of the control element as definedby the invention, by a sectional face view.

FIG. 17 shows the control element with a section along lines XVII—XVIIin FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 shows another design variation of the control element as definedby the invention, by a sectional face view.

FIG. 19 shows another sectional face view of another design variation ofthe control element as defined by the invention.

FIG. 20 shows another design variation of the control element as definedby the invention, by a sectional face view.

FIG. 21 shows the control element as defined by the invention with asection along lines XXI—XXI in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 shows a closing piece of the control element as defined by theinvention, by a sectional side view.

FIG. 23 shows the closing piece by a section along lines XXIII—XXIII inFIG. 22.

FIG. 24 shows a sectional face view of another design variation of thecontrol element as defined by the invention.

FIG. 25 shows the control element with a section along lines XXV—XXV inFIG. 24.

FIG. 26 shows another design variation of the control element as definedby the invention, by a sectional face view.

FIG. 27 shows another design variation of the control element as definedby the invention, by a sectional face view.

FIG. 28 shows a sectional face view of a holding and/or locking deviceof the control element.

FIG. 29 shows another embodiment of the holding and/or locking device bya sectional face view.

FIG. 30 shows another design variation of the control element as definedby the invention, by a sectional face view.

FIG. 31 shows the control element with a section according to linesXXXI—XXXI in FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 shows a sectional face view of another design variation of theholding and/or locking device.

FIG. 33 shows the holding and/or locking device with a section accordingto lines XXXIII—XXXIII in FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 shows the holding and/or locking device with a section accordingto lines XXXIV—XXXIV in FIG. 32.

FIG. 35 shows a sectional side view of another design variation of thecontrol element as defined by the invention.

FIG. 36 shows the control element with a section along lines XXXVI—XXXVIin FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 shows the control element with a section according to linesXXXVII—XXXVII in FIG. 35.

FIG. 38 is a schematic representation of a controlling device with amedium-actuated consumer.

FIG. 39 is another embodiment of the control element as defined by theinvention, by a sectional side view; and

FIG. 40 shows the control element with a section according to linesXXXX—XXXX in FIG. 39.

It has to be noted here that identical parts in the various embodimentsof the invention are denoted by the same reference numerals or the samecomponent designations, whereby the disclosures contained in the entiredescription can be applied within the same meaning to identical partswith identical reference numerals or identical component designations.Furthermore, individual features of the different exemplifiedembodiments shown may also in and by themselves represent independentsolutions as defined by the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a control element 1 for pressure media, in particular for apneumatic valve 2. Said pneumatic valve is made of, for example metal orplastic and designed in the form of a square building stone. It has apreferably plane top side 3, a bottom side 5 extending parallel with thetop side and spaced from the latter by a height 4, as well as the sidesurfaces 6 extending at right angles in relation to said top and bottomsides, whereby the two side surfaces 6 opposing each other and facingaway from each other are spaced from one another by a length 7 measuredat right angles in relation to the height 4. The control element 1preferably has a plurality of channels 8.

At least one channel 8 is designed with a center axis 9 as the guidingdevice for at least one moving element 11, said axis extending parallelwith the top side 3 and/or bottom side 5. Said channel 8 forming theguide device 10 is preferably designed in this connection as adistribution channel 12 for the medium. The bore axes 13 extend in thecenters of the cylindrical channels 8, for example at right angles inrelation to the top side 3 and/or the bottom side 5. The channel 8extending from the top side 3 up to the distribution channel 12 isconnected with a cylinder not shown, for example a pneumatic cylinder,for example via a connection thread 14 and hose connections not shown.From the bottom side 5, two channels 8, for example, project up to thedistribution channel 12, whereby a channel 8 is designed as a feedchannel 15 and another channel 8 as an exhaust channel 16. Said channelsare spaced from each other by a spacing 17, which is, for example halvedby a secondary channel 18 forming a channel 8 reaching from the boreaxis 13 from the top side 3 up to the distribution channel 12.

The moving element 11 is limited in the direction parallel with thecenter axis 9 by the faces 19 extending at right angles in relation tosaid center axis. A sealing element 22 designed, for example in the formof a sealing layer or sealing ring extending concentrically around thecenter axis 9, is defined in this connection by an inside diameter 23extending concentrically around the center axis 9, the latter definingthe distribution channel 12. If two sealing elements 22 are used, suchelements are spaced in the direction of the center axis 9 by a spacing24, which, for example, has the same size as a channel diameter 25 of achannel 8, such channel diameter extending concentrically in relation tothe bore axis 13.

Now, when the medium present in the pneumatic cylinder, for example thecompressed air is to be exhausted from said cylinder via the secondarychannel 18, which is connected, for example with a pneumatic cylindernot shown, the collar 20 having the sealing elements 22 is in the shownclosing position, in which the connection between the feed channel 15and the distribution channel 12 and/or the secondary channel 16 isblocked by the sealing elements 22. With the moving element 11 in saidposition, a connection is simultaneously established between thesecondary channel 18 and the exhaust channel 16.

For reducing flow resistances, the two collars 20 are connected via anintermediate element 26 that has a diameter 27 extending concentricallyaround the center axis 9, said diameter being smaller than a collardiameter 28 measured parallel with said diameter 27. The collars 20 arespaced by the intermediate element 26 to such an extent that the faces19 are spaced by a spacing 29 measured parallel with the center axis 9.With the moving element in the position in which it closes the feedchannel 15, a face 19 is preferably in a position in which it abuts ameans 30 for the relative movement between the moving element 11 and thevalve body, said means being arranged adjacent to the feed channel 15.

Said means 30 is arranged in the valve body and is formed in the presentexemplified embodiment by a transmission element 31 that has anelastically deformable cover 32, which completely encloses an interiorspace 33. The cover 32 has the outer surfaces 34 that are facing awayfrom the interior space 33, whereby one outer surface 34 is, in theshown closing position of the moving element 11, in a position in whichit abuts the face 19 of a collar 30. A heating device 35 is located onanother outer surface 34 or in the interior space 33, said heatingdevice preferably being formed by one or by a plurality of heatingelements 36, in particular the heating resistors 37. Electricallygenerated heating energy is transmitted via said heating device 35,which can form a means 30 as well, to the transmission element 31, inparticular to rapidly evaporating liquid that is located in the interiorspace 33. With a light change in temperature, said liquid changes itsstate preferably from the liquid to the gaseous state and thereby causesthe interior space 33 to increase its volume.

Said state is shown in the present exemplified embodiment in connectionwith a means 30 that is also located in the distribution channel 12adjacent to the drain channel 16. It can be seen in connection with saidmeans, which is realized in the form of a transmission element 31 aswell, that the outer surfaces 34 of the cover 32, said outer surfacesextending approximately at right angles in relation to the center axis 9and approximately parallel with each other, are spaced from each otherby a distance 38 measured approximately parallel with the center axis 9.Said distance 38 is greater than the distance 38 of the outer surfaces34 of a cover 32 whose rapidly evaporating liquid located in theinterior space 33 did not undergo any change in its state due to theaction of thermal energy. This other means 30, too, has a heating device35 preferably formed by the heating resistors 37, said heating deviceheating the rapidly evaporating liquid located in the interior space 33and causing a change in the state of said liquid.

With rapidly evaporating liquids, said change in the state takes placein such a way that at the instant at which the state is changing, i.e.when with an increase in the volume of the interior space 33, coolingtakes place and the change in the state from liquid to gaseous is thusreversed, the distance 38 is reduced again and the interior space 33 iscaused to assume again its original volume. The brief change in volumecauses a pulse to act on the face 19 of the moving element 11, causingthe latter to be displaced in the distribution channel 12 that forms theguide device 10 for the moving element 11. The oppositely arranged means30, which is not acted upon, then forms a damping device for the movingelement 11.

The distribution channel 12 is designed, for example in the form of ablind hole and, in a zone disposed adjacent to the side surface 6, has areceiving element 39 for receiving a closing element 40. Said closingelement has, for example a threaded section 41 having an outsidediameter 42 extending concentrically around the center axis 9, saidoutside diameter being larger than the inside diameter 23 of thedistribution channel 12 and approximately corresponding with a corediameter 43 of an inside thread 44 of the receiving element 39. Asurface 45 of the closing element 40, said surface facing thedistribution channel 12 and extending at a right angle in relation tothe center axis 9 and defining the thread section 41 is overtopped by apreferably cylindrically shaped projection 46 in the direction of thedistribution channel 12, said projection having a projection diameter 47extending concentrically around the center axis 9, and a projectionlength 48 measured at a right angle in relation to said projectiondiameter. Said projection length spaces apart a front surface 49extending at a right angle in relation to the center axis 9. Now, theheating element described above, which is supplied with electricalcurrent via a line 50, is located on said front surface 49 and extendsoutwards in the projection 46 and within the zone of the threadedsection 41.

Furthermore, the thread section 41 has, for example a hexagon receptacle51 shown by dashed lines, which makes it possible to more or less insertthe closing element 40 with its projection 46 in the guide device 10,i.e. in the distribution channel 12 and to thereby change a spacing 52of the outer surfaces 34 of two transmission elements 31, said outersurfaces facing each other. This, in turn, makes it possible to exactlyadapt the closing or the opening position of the moving element 11 tothe channels 8 and to prevent in this way incorrect distribution of themedium to the different channels 8. Furthermore, the control element mayhave the monitoring elements 53, as shown by way of example, which arerealized, for example in the form of the inductive approximationswitches 54 that monitor the position of the moving element 11.

The jointly described FIGS. 2 to 4 show another design variation of acontrol element 1 as defined by the invention. The control element 1 hasin the distribution channel 12—which is designed as the guide device10—the moving element 11. The moving element 11, which is shown ingreater detail in FIG. 4, has the two faces 19 that are facing away fromeach other and define the moving element in the direction of the centeraxis 9, said faces 19 being spaced from one another by the spacing 29.

The moving element 11 has a plurality of collars 20 that are spaced fromone another in the direction of the spacing 29. Each two collars 20 arespaced from one another by a distance 55, which is measured parallelwith the spacing 29. The collars 20 have a collar diameter 28 that ismeasured concentrically around the center axis 9. The collars 20 spacedfrom each other by the distance 55 form a receiving groove 56 for thesealing-elements 22. Additional collars 20 are located spaced from thecollars 20 of a receiving groove 56 by a spacing 57, said additionalcollars forming the holding grooves 58 for a holding and/or lockingdevice that is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. Collars 20 are locatedalso in the end zones of the moving element 11 that are spaced from eachother by the spacing 29, whereby collars may form a receiving groove 56for a sealing element 22 as well. The outer surfaces 34 of the covers 32of the means 30 designed as the transmitting elements 31 are spaced fromeach other by the spacing 52, which in the present exemplifiedembodiment corresponds with the spacing 29.

The control element 1 in turn has a plurality of channels 8, whereby achannel 8 projecting from the top side 3 to the distribution channel 12is designed as a secondary channel 18, whereas a channel 8 projectingfrom the bottom side 55 to the distribution channel 12 is designed as afeed channel 15, and another channel as an exhaust channel 16. In thedistribution channel 12, the above-mentioned holding and/or lockingdevice 59 is located both in the intermediate zone between the feedchannel 15 and the secondary channel 18, and between the exhaust channel16 and the secondary channel 18.

Said holding and/or locking device is shown in detail in FIG. 33 and hasa heating device 35 concentrically extending around the center axis 9.Said heating device is structured from a plurality of heating elements36 that are arranged on an inner surface 60 defining the distributionchannel 12 in the direction of the center axis 9. Said heating elementsare successively arranged in the circumferential direction of the innersurface 60 and are formed, for example by the heating resistors 37. Themoving elements 11 are located on an inner side 61 defining the heatingelements 36 in the direction of the center axis 9, whereby one movingelement 1 is preferably associated with each heating element 36. Saidmoving elements 11 have the covers 32 defining the inner spaces 33 inwhich a readily evaporating liquid is located.

Now, when thermal energy is admitted to a moving element 11 by means ofthe heating element 36, the liquid contained in the inner space 33evaporates and the cover 32 expands, whereby said process takes place,for example simultaneously with two moving elements 11 opposing eachother diametrically. In the expanded condition, the surfaces 62 of themoving elements 11 opposing each other diametrically, said surfaces 62facing each other, are spaced from one another by a spacing 63 that isgreater than the diameter 27 of the intermediate elements 26 of themoving element 11 shown in FIG. 4, which are spaced from each other bythe collars 20. However, the spacing 63 is smaller than the collardiameter 28, so that for example two moving elements 11 opposing eachother diametrically as shown in FIG. 3 engage the holding groove 58 andin this way prevent the moving element 11 shown in FIG. 4 from axiallymoving in the direction of the center axis 9.

Since the expansion of the cover 32 takes place for just a moment, themoving elements 11 arranged over the inner circumference of the innerside 61 of the heating device 35, i.e. the heating elements 36associated with said moving elements are successively controlled, sothat for example only two covers 32 opposing each other diametricallyexpand for a short time. However, due to such successive control, two ofthe covers 32 opposing each other are always expanded, so that thepiston-shaped moving element 11 shown in FIG. 4 is always locked withoutthe risk of any thermal destruction of the moving elements 11 or theircovers 32 shown in FIG. 3. The holding and/or locking devices 59 a rearranged in the distribution channel 11 with such a spacing from eachother that when the piston-shaped moving element 11 is in a position inwhich it prevents flow connection between the feed channel 15 and thesecondary channel 18, a holding and/or locking device 59 engages aholding groove 58, whereas when the piston-shaped moving element 11 isin a position in which it prevents flow connection between the exhaustchannel 16 and the secondary channel 18, another holding and/or lockingdevice engages another holding groove 58 of the piston-shaped movingelement 11.

The jointly described FIGS. 5 and 6 show another design variation of acontrol element 1 for media, in particular a pneumatic valve 2. Thelatter has a distribution channel 12 that has the center axis 9 andwhich is defined by the inside diameter 23 extending around the centeraxis 9.

The control element 1 has a plurality of channels 8, whereby one channel8 is designed as a feed channel 15 and another channel 8 extendingparallel with said channel is designed as an exhaust channel 16. Saidchannels have the bore axes 13, which extend parallel with each otherand at right angles in relation to the center axis 9 and with a spacing17 that is measured parallel with said center axis. Furthermore, saidchannels extend from the top side 3 up to the distribution channel 12and, within the zone of the top side 3, have the connection thread 14.The secondary channel 18 extends by about the spacing 17 at right anglesin relation to the center axis 9 and the bore axes 13, from a back side64 extending at a right angle in relation to the top side 3, also up tothe distribution channel 12. For example two moving elements 11 arelocated in the distribution channel 12, whereby one moving element 11 isassociated with the feed channel 15 and one moving element 11 with theexhaust channel 16. In the present exemplified embodiment, the movingelements 11 are formed by drops of liquid, which are forcibly guided ina cage-like housing 65.

The housing 65 consists of a jacket 66 concentrically extending aroundthe center axis 9 and the preferably plate-like face parts 67 extendingat right angles in relation to the center axis 9, said face parts beingspaced from each other by a width 68 that is measured parallel with thecenter axis 9. Said width is equal to or greater than the channeldiameter 25 of the feed channel 15 and/or the exhaust channel 16 andapproximately forms a width 69 of the drop-shaped moving element 11. Thehousing 65, and particularly the jacket 66 and the face parts 67 havethe openings 70 permitting the medium to flow through. The means 30 forthe relative movement and/or deformation of the moving element 11 arearranged opposite the feed channel 15 and/or the exhaust channel 16. Inthe present exemplified embodiment, said means are realized in the formof the wave energy sources 71 and/or the wave generators 72, inparticular in the form of the microwave generators 73.

Said microwave generators have the axes 74 extending parallel with eachother and preferably are arranged aligned with the bore axes 13 of thefeed channel 15 and the exhaust channel 16. Now, if, for example, theexhaust channel 16 is to be blocked, i.e. if a flow passage is to bemade available from the feed channel 15 to the secondary channel 18, amicrowave generator 73 is acted upon, for example via a centralconnection line 75 and a plug 76. The moving element 11 is lifted off bythe wave energy and moved in the direction of the exhaust channel 16,which is closed thereby. It is, of course, possible also to use insteadof the moving element 11 a transmission element 31 as described in FIG.1, of which the volume is changed by admitting microwave energy, andwhich thereby closes one of several of the channels 8.

The wave energy sources 71 are screwed into a threaded bore 77. In thepresent exemplified embodiment, the distribution channel 12 is realizedin the form of a passage opening, whereby the receiving elements 39 forreceiving the closing elements 40 are arranged within the zone of theside surfaces 6. Said receiving elements have the threaded sections 41via which the closing elements 40 are screwed into the receivingelements 39. The present design variation offers the advantage that boththe feed channel 15 and the exhaust channel 16 can be closedsimultaneously.

FIG. 7 shows another variation of the control element 1 as defined bythe invention, in particular of the pneumatic valve 2. Said pneumaticvalve is defined by the top side 3, the bottom side 5 extending parallelwith said top side, facing away from the latter, and by the sidesurfaces 6 extending parallel with each other. The center axis 9 extendsparallel with the top aside 3 or bottom side 55, and the inside diameter23 of the distribution channel 12, which is realized as a guide device10, is concentrically arranged around said center axis 9. The secondarychannel 18 extends with the bore axis 13 from the top side 3, extendingat a right angle in relation to the center axis 9, said secondarychannel having the connection thread 14 within the zone of the top side3. The channels 8 extend, for example from the bottom side 5 with thebore axes 13 at right angles in relation to the center axis 9, wherebyone channel 8 is realized as the feed channel 15 and another channel 8as the exhaust channel 16. The feed channel 15 is spaced from theexhaust channel 16 by the spacing 17 that extends parallel with thecenter axis 9.

For example two moving elements 11 are located in the distributionchannel 12, said moving elements each having a collar 20. The collar 20has a deepening 21 serving the purpose of holding the sealing element 22that concentrically extends around the center axis 9. Connected with thecollar 20 via the intermediate element 26, the closing element 40 isarranged immovably in the distribution channel 12, said closing elementbeing detachably arranged with the threaded section 41 in the insidethread 44 of the receiving element 39. The means 30 for the relativemovement and/or the deformation of the moving element 11 is arranged,for example in or on the moving element 11, the latter being formed bythe collar 20 and the intermediate element 26. Said means again may beformed by the heating device 35. The moving element 11 may be made ofmetal and/or plastic material and may have different coefficients ofthermal expansion by sections, so that by heating the intermediateelement 26, the length of the latter is changed in the direction of thecenter axis 9.

In the undeformed condition, the intermediate element 26 has in thisconnection a length 78 that is limited by the surface 45 of the closingelement 40 and by a back surface 79 of the collar 20, said back surfaceextending parallel with the surface 45, facing the latter. Now, whenenergy is admitted to the heating device 35, the intermediate element 26changes its expanse and reaches a final length 80 that is greater thanthe length 78. In said extended position, a spacing 81 of the surface 45up to a deepening edge 82 of the deepening 21, said edge extending at aright angle in relation to the center axis 9, is greater than thedistance 83, which is measured from the surface 45 up to a jacket line86 located in the feed channel 15 adjacent to the exhaust channel 16, sothat the direction of flow-through from the feed channel 15 to thesecondary channel 18 is blocked by the sealing element 22. In theundeformed condition of the intermediate element 26, the direction offlow-through from the secondary channel 18 to the exhaust channel 16 isclear and the collar 20 with the sealing element 22 is spaced from theexhaust channel 16 in the opposite direction to the feed channel 15.

Another design variation of the control element 1 as defined by theinvention is shown in the jointly described FIGS. 8 and 9. Said controlelement has the distribution channel 12, which is defined by thesurfaces 88 extending parallel with the top side 3 and the bottom side5, said surfaces being spaced from each other by a channel height 87,and by the side surfaces 89 facing each other, said side surfacesextending parallel with the back side 64. An about rectangular crosssection of the distribution channel 12 is formed in this way, which hasa length 90 from the side surface 6 in the direction of another sidesurface 6 that is facing away from the former and extending parallelwith the former. The pneumatic valve 2 again has a plurality of channels8, whereby a channel 8 extending from the bottom side 5 to thedistribution channel 12 and in parallel with the side surface 6 isrealized as the feed channel 5, and the other channels 8 reach from thetop side 3to the distribution channel 12 and are realized as thesecondary channels 18. In the present exemplified embodiment, thecontrol element 1 has the four secondary channels 18 that each areprovided with a connection thread 14. Said secondary channels alsoextend parallel with the side surfaces 6, whereby the bore axes 13 ofthe, secondary channels 18 are spaced by the spacing 17.

The moving element 11 is located arranged in the distribution channel 12and has a plurality of inner spaces 33 that are spaced in the directionof the length 90 and surrounded by at least one cover 32. Said innerspaces are filled with a readily evaporating liquid. Within the zone ofintersection with the distribution channel 12, the secondary channels 18form the openings 91, whereby a chamber 92 forming the inner space isassociated with each opening 91. The moving element 11 is formed in thisconnection by the transmission element 31.

The heating device 35 is arranged in the zone between the surface 88 andthe outer surface 34 of the moving element 11 facing said surface,whereby a heating element 36 is associated with each chamber 92.Preferably, however, the moving element 12 has more chambers 92 thansecondary channels 18 are present, so that a chamber 92 is arranged alsoin the zone located between the feed channel 15 and the secondarychannel 18 arranged adjacent to said feed channel, so that a mainblocking element 93 is created in this way. As shown in FIG. 9, themoving element 11, i.e. the cover 32, in the undeformed state, has awidth 94 measured parallel with the top side 3 that is greater than thechannel diameter 25 of the secondary channel 18 and smaller than thewidth 95 spacing the side surfaces 89 apart. This creates between thecover 32 and the side surface 89 an intermediate space through which themedium can flow in the expanded state, so that each individual secondarychannel 18 can be blocked separately. However, the width 94 of the mainblocking element 93 can be realized in such a way that it corresponds inthe expanded state with the width 95 and the last-mentioned intermediatespace in the zone of the main blocking element 93 thus can be avoided.

Within the zone of the face 6, the control element 1 again has thereceiving element 39 for receiving the closing element 40 which, forexample is joined with the heating device 35 as one single part. Saidclosing element 40, furthermore, has at least one sealing element 22 anda line 50 that can be connected to further lines or to a centralconnection line, for example by way of a bus-plug 96.

Furthermore, another design variation of the control element 1 asdefined by the invention is shown in the FIGS. 10 to 12. Said controlelement consists of a basic body 97 and an additional body 98 that isarranged on the top side 3 of the basic body, forming a collectingelement 99 for the medium. The basic body 97 has the distributionchannel 12 as well as a feed channel 15 projecting from the distributionchannel 12 up to the bottom side 5. Several secondary channels 18, whichare spaced from each other by the spacing 17, extend from the top side3, with their bore axes 13 extending at right angles in relation to thetop side 3. The moving element 11 is located in the distribution channel12 and again has a plurality of inner spaces 33 that are spaced apart inthe direction of the length 90 of the basic body 97, said inner spacesbeing defined by at least one cover 32. The inner spaces 33 are filledwith a readily evaporating liquid. The heating device 35 is arranged inthe zone between the surface 88 of the distribution channel 12associated with the bottom side 5, and the outer surface 34 of themoving element 11 or the cover 32 facing said surface.

The basic body 97 has a width 100 measured at a right angle in relationto the length 90, said width 100 being greater than a width 95 of thedistribution channel 12 measured parallel with said width 100. The width95 is realized in such a way that the basic body 97 has a plurality ofsecondary channels 18 also in the direction of the width 100, suchsecondary channels also being spaced from each, for example by thespacing 17. Said secondary channels reach from the top side 3 up to thesurface 88 of the distribution channel 12 associated with said top side,and form the openings 91 in the zone of said surface 88. A chamber 92 ofthe moving element 11 forming the inner space 33 is associated with eachopening 91 and a heating element 36 of the heating device 35 isassociated with each chamber 92.

The secondary channels 18 of the basic body 97 are therefore arranged inthe form of a grid, whereby for example five secondary channels 18, i.e.in particular their bore axes 13 are disposed in each case in atransverse plane 101 extending in parallel with the side surface 6, andthe transverse planes are spaced from each other, for example by aspacing 17. Four of the secondary channels 18, i.e. their bore axes 13are disposed for example in each case in a longitudinal plane 102extending at right angles in relation to the transverse plane 101, saidlongitudinal planes extending parallel with the back side 64 of thebasic body 97 and being spaced from each other, for example by thespacing 17 as well. This results in a grid-like arrangement of thesecondary channels 18.

The moving element 11, which has a plurality of chambers 92 both in thedirection of the length 90 and also in the direction of the width 95,has a width 94 that corresponds with the width 95 in the presentexemplified embodiment. The openings 103 are formed in the zone ofintersection of the secondary channels 18 with the top side 3, wherebythe openings 103 of the secondary channels 18 disposed, for example in atransverse plane 101, feed into a groove-like deepening 104.

Said deepening has an inner surface 105 facing the top side 3, saidinner surface being spaced from the top side 3 in the opposite directiontowards the bottom side 5 by a groove depth 106. The deepening 104 isdefined by two inside surfaces 107 extending at right angles in relationto the inner surface 105, and parallel with the side surface 6, saidinside surfaces 107 being spaced from one another by a groove width 108measured at a right angle in relation to the side surface 6. Said groovewidth is at least as large as the channel diameter 25 of the secondarychannels 18. The deepenings 104 are bound in a plane extending parallelwith the top side 3 by at least one sealing element 109. A connectionopening 112 with a connection thread 113 projecting from the outer side111 in the direction of the inner surface 105 extends from the innersurface 105 up to a outer side 111 spaced from said inner surface 105 bya height 110 in the opposite direction toward the top side 3. In thepresent exemplified embodiment, the additional body 98, i.e. thecollecting element 99 is realized in such a way that five secondarychannels 18 feed in each case into a deepening 104 having a connectionopening 112. It is, of course, possible also that the deepening 104extends not parallel with the side surface 6 but at a right angle inrelation to the latter, so that for example four secondary channels 18disposed in each case in a longitudinal plane 102 feed into a deepening104 and thus into a connection opening 112.

Now, by closing one or several secondary channels 18 with the movingelement 11 it is made possible by the present design variation toexactly adapt the amount of the medium passing through to a definedrequirement and to combine, for example a multitude of the channels 8 toform one path of flow.

Now, the jointly described FIGS. 13 and 14 show a means 30 for therelative movement and/or deformation of one or a plurality of movingelements 11, which are not shown. The means 30, which is forming aheating device 35, consists in this connection of a, for examplerectangular basic plate 114 that has a width 116 which is halved by alongitudinal plane 116 extending at a right angle in relation to saidwidth. Parallel to the longitudinal plane 116, the basic plate 114 has alength 117. Said length spaces apart two transverse side surfaces 118extending parallel with the width 115 and at right angles in relation tothe longitudinal side surfaces 119, the latter being spaced from eachother by the width 115 and being arranged parallel with the longitudinalplane 116. Furthermore, the basic plate 114 is defined by a bottom side120 extending at a right angle in relation to the longitudinal sidesurface 119, and by a top side 122 spaced from said bottom side by aheight 121 and extending parallel with said bottom side.

A multitude of heating elements 36 which, for example, are realized inthe form of the heating resistors 37, and which by their totality form aheating device 35, are located on the top side in the form of a grid.The heating elements 36 are arranged in this connection in such a waythat five of the heating elements 36, for example, have in each case alongitudinal plane 123 extending parallel with the longitudinal plane116, and for example five heating elements 36 have in each case atransverse plane 124 extending at a right angle in relation to saidlongitudinal plane 123 as well as in relation to the longitudinal plane116. The longitudinal planes 123 are spaced in each case by a spacing125 measured parallel with the width 115, and the transverse planes 124are spaced by a spacing 126 measured at a right angle in relation to thespacing 125. The spacings 125, 126 can be realized in such a way thatthey correspond with the spacing 17 of the secondary channels 18 shownin FIG. 10.

The basic plate 114 has a face element 127 that has a face height 128measured parallel with the height 121, said face height 128 beinggreater than the height 121. It spaces a face 129 from the bottom side120, said face 129 extending parallel with the top side 122. Thecoupling receptacles 130 of a coupling device 131 are located in theface 129, said coupling receptacles projecting from the face 129 in thedirection of the bottom side 120. Said coupling receptacle are realized,for example in the form of the plug sockets 132, from which the lines133 lead in the direction of the bottom side 120 and subsequently to theheating elements 36. The lines 133 can be preferably realized in thezone of the top side 122 in the form of the conducting paths 134, sothat the means 30 can be realized in the form of an integrated circuitor of a pc motherboard 135.

The coupling projections 136 are associated with the couplingreceptacles 130 and arranged in a coupling element 137 located on theface 129. Said coupling element 137 has, for example a bus plug 96 thatare, via the lines 139, in line connection with the coupling projections136 which, for example, are realized in the form of the plug elements138. Now, this makes it possible to control the coupling device 131 viaa bus line and the bus plug 96 and, furthermore, via the lines 139, andfurthermore to control individual heating elements 36 of several of theheating elements 36 via the lines 133 or the conductor paths 134.Furthermore, the means 30 has a sealing element 22. The heating elements36 are arranged on the top side 122 in such a way that they areassociated with the individual chambers 92 of a moving element 11 shownin FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 15 shows another variation of a moving element 11, which isrealized, for example in the form of a lifting piston 140 that isarranged in a channel 8, in particular in the secondary channel 8. Thelifting piston 140 has a sealing section 141 that is formed by a conejacket 143 extending from a cylinder jacket 143—which is arrangedcylindrically around the bore axis 13—in the direction of thedistribution channel 12, whereby the cylinder jacket 142 has a jacketdiameter 144 that is larger than a diameter 145 of a bar 147 extendingfrom a cone part 146—which is bound by the cone jacket 143—in thedirection of the distribution channel 12. In the opposite directiontoward the cylinder jacket 142, the bar 147 has a collar 149 spaced at aspacing 148 from the cone part 146. Said collar 149 has a collardiameter 150 that is larger than the diameter 145 of the bar 147.Adjoining the collar 149, a tie rod 151 extends in the oppositedirection toward the sealing section 141, said tie rod having a threadedsection 152 in an end zone facing away from the sealing section 141.

The tie rod 151 is bound by a moving element 11 which, as describedabove, is formed by a cover 32. Said cover encloses an inner space 33 inwhich again a high-boiling liquid is contained. In the zone between thecover 32 and the surface 88 of the distribution channel 12, the means 30is present, for example at least in the form of a heating element 36.The tie rod 151 projects in this connection through the heating element36 as well as through the surface 88 and projects into an opening 153,in which a spring element 154 is arranged. A dish element 155 is screwedto the threaded section 152. Within the zone of the surface 88associated with the top side 3, the secondary channel 18 has a seal seat156 extending conically tapering in the direction of the distributionchannel 12, with the cone jacket 143 of the lifting piston 140 beingassociated with said seal seat 156.

Now, when no thermal energy is admitted to the cover 32, the springelement 154 applies a spring force to the dish element 155 that isdetachably or undetachably connected with the tie rod 151, and therebycauses the cone jacket 143 of the lifting piston 140 to be pressedagainst the sealing seat 156, which interrupts the passage of flow fromthe distribution channel 12 into the secondary channel 18. Now, if saidpassage of flow is to be opened, thermal energy is admitted into thecover 32 via the heating element 36, which causes the high-boilingliquid contained in the inner space 33 to evaporate, and the cover 32 tobe expanded. This causes a force of pressure directed against the springforce to be applied to the collar 149, and the lifting piston 140, i.e.the cone jacket 143 is lifted from the sealing seat 156 and the springelement 154 is tensioned, which, upon termination of the action ofthermal energy and when the liquid contained in the inner space 33changes its state from the gaseous to the liquid state, causes thelifting piston 140 to be automatically forced into the closing positionby spring force.

The jointly described FIGS. 16 and 17 show another exemplifiedembodiment of a control element 1 as defined by the invention, inparticular a pneumatic valve 2. The distribution channel 2 has thesurfaces 88 extending parallel with the top side 3 and/or the bottomside 5, said surfaces facing each other and being spaced apart by thechannel height 87. Furthermore, the distribution channel 12 is definedin the direction of the back side 64 and a front side 157 extendingparallel with said back side by the side surfaces 89 facing each other.For example the two secondary air channels 18 extending parallel witheach other and in relation to the side surface 6, reach from the topside 3 up to the distribution channel 12, with their bore axes 13 byspaced apart by the spacing 17. The exhaust channel 16, for example,which extends parallel with the side surface 6 and in relation to thesecondary air channels 18, reaches from the bottom side 5 up to thedistribution channel 12.

The moving element 11 and/or the means 30 for the relative movementand/or the deformation of the moving element 11 are formed by amulti-layer element 158 that has the elastically deformable,tongue-shaped elements 159 conforming to the channels 8 to be closed.Said elements project over a base plate 160 of the multi-layer element158, said base plate abutting, for example the surface 88 disposedadjacent to the bottom side 5. The tongue-shaped elements 159 are inthis connection at least in sections defined by the slot-like recesses161 arranged in the base plate 160, and have the sealing elements 22 onthe top side 162 facing the secondary air channels 18, said sealingelements each being formed, for example by an elastic sealing layer 163.

The multi-layer element 158, in particular the base plate 160 and thetongue-shaped elements 159 are structured, for example in two layers,whereby a first layer 164 disposed adjacent to the bottom side 5 isformed by a metallic or non-metallic material which, upon admission ofelectrical current or upon application of a voltage is deformed in theopposite direction toward the bottom side 5. A layer 165 disposedadjacent to the top side 3 is formed by a material not having theproperties of the layer 164, which results in a resetting effect.

The tongue-shaped elements 159 or the sealing elements 22 arranged onsaid elements 159 are defined in the direction of the top side 3 by asealing surface 166 which, in the undeformed state of the tongue-shapedelements 159, is, in a zone or curvature that is disposed closest to thetop side 3, spaced from the surface 88 arranged adjacent to the bottomside 5 in the opposite direction toward the bottom side 5, by a spacing167 that is smaller than the channel height 87 of the distributionchannel 12.

Now, when a voltage or an electrical current is applied to thetongue-shaped element 159, the latter is deformed and moved in thedirection of the top side 3, so that the spacing 167 corresponds withthe channel height 87 and the opening 91 of the secondary channel 18 istherefore closed by the sealing element 22, in particular by the sealinglayer 163. In this way, only the air conducted via the second secondarychannel 18 into the distribution channel 12 is discharged via theexhaust channel 16, for example from a pneumatic driving device. Inorder to realize the mobility of the tongue-shaped elements 159, thebase plate 160 has the release positions 168 that space thetongue-shaped elements 159 from the base plate 160. This, however, alsocreates in each case for one tongue-shaped element 159 a deformationzone 169, for example in the form of a bending edge 170.

A base plate thickness 171 measured parallel with the channel height 87is not greater than the channel height 87. One or several connectionlines 75 extend in or on the base plate 160 and/or the tongue-shapedelements 159, said lines serving the purpose of admitting electricalcurrent or voltage to the tongue-shaped elements 159. Furthermore, thepneumatic valve 2 again has the receiving element 39 in which theclosing element 40 is arranged, the latter preferably being connectedwith the base plate 160 in the form of one single piece. However,instead of being formed by a multi-layer element 158, the moving element11 and/or the means 30 can be formed also by an element that is producedfrom a so-called memory metal which, when acted upon by energy, is movedinto the sealing position, and which, upon termination of the admissionof energy, is automatically reset to its original position because ofthe memory effect.

FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of the control element 1 as defined bythe invention, for example in the form of a hydraulic valve 172. Thelatter has the feed channel 15 and the exhaust channel 16. Said channelsproject from the bottom side 55 into the distribution channel 12 and arespaced from one another by the spacing 17. The secondary channel 18extends from the top side 3 to the distribution channel 12. The movingelement 11 is located in the distribution channel 12 and has the twocollars 20 extending at right angles in relation to the center axis 9.Each of said collars has at least one deepening 21 for the sealingelements 22. The collars are connected via the intermediate element 26and are defined by the faces 19 facing each other, said faces beingspaced from each other by an intermediate element length 173. Thediameter 27 of the intermediate element 26 its smaller than the collardiameter 28 of the collars 20.

The distribution channel 12 realized in the form of a bore has the means30 for the relative movement of the moving elements 11. Which arerealized, for example in the form of the electrically operated coils174. Said coils are spaced from each other by a spacing 175 measuredparallel with the center axis 9. Said coils, furthermore, have an insidediameter 176 measured at a right angle in relation to the center axis 9and an outside diameter 177 measured parallel with said inside diameter,whereby the inside diameter 176 corresponds with the inside diameter 23of the distribution channel 12. The outside diameter 177 is larger thanthe inside diameter 176.

The opening 91 of the secondary channel 18 is located, for example inthe zone of the spacing 175. Now, if the path of flow shown in FIG. 18from the feed channel 15 into the secondary channel 18 is to be changedin such a way that the secondary channel 18 is connected in terms offlow with the exhaust channel 16, the coil 174 disposed adjacent to theexhaust channel 16 is switched to currentless and current is admitted tothe coil 174 disposed adjacent to the feed channel 15, which then causesthe collar 20 disposed adjacent to the feed channel 125 to be moved bythe electromagnetic force in the direction of the exhaust channel 16,which moves the sealing element 22 into a position located between thefeed channel 15 and the secondary channel 18, which blocks this flowpath and the flow path from the secondary channel 18 to the exhaustchannel 16 is released in this way, i.e. the collar 20 disposed adjacentto the exhaust channel 16, or the sealing element 22 arranged on saidcollar is moved into a position spaced from the exhaust channel 16 inthe opposite direction in relation to the exhaust channel 16. Thehydraulic valve 172 again has the closing element 40 that closes thedistribution channel 12.

FIG. 19 shows another design variation of the control element 1 asdefined by the invention. Said control element has a plurality of themoving elements 11 arranged in the distribution channel 12, whereby thedistribution channel 12 is divided in the distribution sections 178, sothat a sealing partition 179 is arranged between two adjacentdistribution sections 178. The moving element 11 has a plurality ofcollars 20 concentrically extending around the center axis 9, wherebytwo collars 20 form a receiving groove 56 for the sealing-element 22,with additional collars 20 being spaced from said two collars indirections opposing each other.

The means 30 for the relative movement, said means being realized in theform of the coils 174, are arranged in the distribution channel 12. Acollar 20 of the moving element 12 is associated in each case with oneof the two coils 174 arranged in a distribution section 178, so thatwhen a coil 174 is acted upon, the collar 20 associated with that coilis attracted in the direction of said coil 174 and the moving element 12is displaced in that way along the center axis 9. Several secondarychannels 18 are arranged on the top side 3, such channels beingcombined, for example in one common medium main line 180. Several feedchannels 15 are located on the bottom side 5, said channels beingcombined, for example in one common medium feed line 181. Severalexhaust channels 16, which are arranged on the bottom side 5 as well,are combined in a common medium exhaust line 182 as well. It is nowpossible in this way to supply medium-actuated consumers with a largervolume of medium and to furthermore vary said volume.

The coils 174 are arranged in the distribution channel 12 in such a waythat each two adjacent coils 174 of two adjacent distribution sections178 are spaced from one another by a distance 183 that is greater than aparallel measured spacing 184 of a coil 178 from a collar 20 of a movingelement 11 that is associated with such a coil but spaced from it, suchmoving element being located in a distribution section 178. The coil 174of a distribution section 178 is prevented in this way from influencingthe moving element 11 of an adjacent distribution section 178.

Another design variation of a control element 1 as defined by theinvention is shown in the jointly described FIGS. 20 and 21. Saidcontrol element has two secondary channels 18 reaching from the top side3 to the distribution channel 12, as well as two channels 8 extending atright angles in relation to said secondary channels, with one of saidchannels 8 being a feed channel 15 and another an exhaust channel 16.The distribution channel 12 is realized in the form of a cylindricalbore which, in a zone adjacent to the bottom side 5, has a groove 185with a groove bottom 186 extending parallel with the bottom side 5. Thetransmission element 31 and/or the means 30 are arranged in said groove185. The distribution channel 12 is closed by a plate-like closingelement 40, which, in an inside surface 187 facing the distributionchannel 123, has a cylinder-shaped bolt 188 projecting beyond saidinside surface at a right angle.

Said bolt has a bolt length 189 measured parallel with the center axis 9and at a right angle in relation to the inner surface 187, said boltlength preferably being greater than the length 90 of the distributionchannel 12 measured parallel with said bolt length. The bolt 188 has abolt diameter 190 measured at a right angle in relation to the boltlength 189, said bolt diameter 190 being equal to or smaller than arecess diameter 191 of a recess 192, the latter being arranged in an endzone 193 of the control element 1, said end zone being arranged in theopposite direction in relation to the closing element 40. A depth 194 ofthe recess 192 measured parallel with the bolt length 189 is selected inthis connection in such a way that when added with the length 90 it isgreater than the bolt length 189. The bolt 188 forms the guide device 10for the moving element 11, which is arranged in the distribution channel12. Provision can be made in this connection between the bolt 188 andthe moving element 11 for a longitudinal guide that prevents a radialmovement of the moving element 11.

The moving element 11 has one or several bearing elements 195 extendingconcentrically around the center axis 9. Said bearing elements areparticularly realized in the form of the sliding bearing bushes 196, inwhich the bolt 188 is inserted. The moving element 11 has at least onesealing element 22 that is preferably realized as one single piece andthat has two transverse bridges 197 as well as two peripheral bridges198 extending approximately at right angles in relation to saidtransverse bridges. The transverse bridges 197 extend parallel with thecenter axis 9 and they are spaced from the groove bottom 186 in theopposite direction toward the bottom side 5 by a height 199, the latterbeing greater than a width 200 of the groove sides 201 extendingparallel with each other, facing each other, and at right angles inrelation to the groove bottom 186, said width 200 being measuredparallel with said height 199. The width 200 is defined in thisconnection by the groove bottom 186 and an intersection edge 202, whichis formed by the groove sides 201 and s cylindrical surface 203 of thedistribution channel 12 that extends concentrically around the centeraxis 9. However, the height 199 is smaller than an axis spacing 204measured parallel with said height, said distance 204 spacing the boreaxis 13 of the feed channel 15 and/or the exhaust channel 16 from thegroove bottom 186. The axis spacing 204 corresponds in this connectionat least with the height 199 plus half of the channel diameter 25 of thefeed channel 15 and/or the exhaust channel 16.

In a zone facing the groove bottom 186, the moving element 11 has theconcave moldings 205 extending at right angles in relation to the centeraxis 9. Said moldings project beyond a surface line 207 in the directionof the center axis 9 by a molding depth 208, said surface line definingthe moving element 11 in the direction of the groove bottom 186 andbeing disposed in a plane of symmetry extending through the center axis9 and being located at right angles in relation to the inner surface 187and to the top side 3. The surface line 207 is removed from the groovebottom 186 by a spacing 209, which is smaller than a height 210 of asegment 211 of the cover 32 of the transmission element 31, whosechamber 92 is in the expanded condition. And end edge 212 of the movingelement 11, said end edge being disposed adjacent to the closing element40, is spaced from the inner surface 187 by a spacing 213, which, in afinal position of the moving element 11 closing the exhaust channel 16,is greater than a spacing 214 of a surface zone of an expanded segment211 from the inner surface 187, said surface zone being disposed closestto the center axis 9. In this connection, the end edge 212 is spacedfrom the surface zone of the segment 211 disposed closest to the centeraxis 9 by a lateral offset 215 measured parallel with the center axis 9.

Now, when the moving element 11 has to be moved in the oppositedirection to the closing element 40, the segment 211 of the transmissionelement 31 disposed adjacent to the closing element 40 is expanded,which causes the cover 32 to apply pressure to the adjacent end edge 212and to exert in this way on the moving element 11 a component of axialforce extending parallel-with the center axis 9. This causes another endedge 216 defining the first molding 205 at the opposite end to reach aposition in which said end edge also has the lateral offset 215 inrelation to the surface zone of the further segment 211 of thetransmission element 31 that is disposed closest to the center axis 9.Now, when said further segment 211 then expands, the moving element 11carries out a farther-leading axial movement in accordance with thedescribed procedure.

The axial movement of the moving element 11 is limited by a sleeve-likestop 217, which is arranged extending concentrically around the bolt188. Said stop 217 has a ring-shaped stop surface 218 that faces themoving element 11 and that extends parallel with the face 219 of arecess 220 of the moving element 11. When the moving element 11 is in aposition in which the feed channel 15 is sealed by the means of thesealing elements 22, the stop surface 218 and the face 219 are inabutting positions.

Now, when the moving element 11 is to be moved in the direction of theclosing element 40, i.e. into a position in which it seals the exhaustchannel 16, a component of an axial force is applied to an end edge 221that limits the moving element 11 in the opposite direction in relationto the closing element 40, such component of an axial force beinggenerated by a expanding segment 211 associated with said end edge 221.For the axial movement it is furthermore necessary that the segments 211are not expanded simultaneously, but in each case in a successivesequence, so that when one segment 211 is expanded, the segments 211adjacent to such expanded segment and preferably all other segments arein the relieved state. The expansion of the segments 211, which in thechambers 92 again have a rapidly evaporating liquid, is caused byadmitting heat to the segments 211 by means of the above-describedheating device 35 consisting of the individual heating elements 36,whereby a heating element 36 is associated with each of the segments211, and whereby each segment 211 can be supplied with electricalcurrent independently of the other heating segments 36. For the purposeof limiting the axial movement in the direction of the closing element40, a stop 217 is concentrically arranged around the bolt 188 as well.

The jointly described FIGS. 22 and 23 show a closing element 40 of thecontrol element 1 as defined by the invention that is shown by way ofexample in FIGS. 20 and 21. Said closing element has the bolt 188, whichis connected with a flange plate 222 preferably in the form of onesingle piece. The bolt 188 projects in this connection beyond the innersurface 187 of the flange plate 222 by a bolt length 189 and has thebolt diameter 190. The bolt 188, in particular an outer surface 223, isarranged rotation-symmetrically around the center axis 9 and has, forexample 2 deepening grooves 224 extending concentrically around thecenter axis 9, said grooves 224 having a groove width 225 measuredparallel with the center axis 9, and a groove depth 226 projecting fromthe outer surface 223 in the direction of the center axis 9. Thedeepening groove 224 disposed adjacent to the flange plate 222 is spacedfrom the inner surface 187 by a spacing 227. The deepening groove 224arranged in the opposite direction from said deepening groove 224 towardthe flange plate 222 is spaced from the inner surface 187 by a distance228. A spacing 229 between the two deepening grooves 224 results fromthe difference between the distance 228 and the spacing 227.

The contact elements 230 are located in the deepening grooves 224. Eachof said contact elements has a contact bridge 231 projecting beyond agroove bottom 232 in the direction of the center axis 9, said groovebottom being spaced from the outer surface 223 in the direction of thecenter axis 9 by the groove depth 226. Furthermore, the bolt 188 has aninner bore 233 extending from an outer surface 234 of the flange plate222, said outer surface facing away from the inner surface 187 andextending parallel with said inner surface, up to a bore depth 235 thatis greater than the sum of the distance 228, the groove width 225 and aflange thickness 236 spacing the outer surface 234 from the innersurface 187. The inner bore 233 has a bore diameter 237 that is smallerthan the bolt diameter 190.

The contact bridges 231 are realized in such a way that they project upinto the inner bore 233, and they are line-connected via the lineelements 238, for example the flexible lines 239, with a coupling device240, for example a multiple plug 241, arranged in the flange plate 222.This makes it possible to admit electrical current to the contactelements 230 via the coupling device 240. On the inner surface 187, theflange plate 222 has the additional contact elements 242 that may beconnected to the multiple plug 241 of another coupling device 243, andserve for contacting, for example the means 30 shown in FIG. 20, inparticular the heating device 35. The contact elements 230 arranged inthe bolt 188 form in this connection the holding and/or locking device59 to the extent that the stops 217 shown by the dashed lines generatean electromagnetic force as well when electrical current is admitted toa contact element 230 and electromagnetism is generated in that way, andthereby retain the moving element 11 shown in FIG. 20, for example onthe face 219 of said moving element. It is prevented in this way thatthe moving element 11 is automatically moved by the pressure conditionsprevailing in the distribution channel 12.

The jointly described FIGS. 24 and 25 show another design variation of acontrol element 1 as defined by the invention, in particular a pneumaticvalve 2, which has the distribution channel 12 extending parallel withthe top side 3 or the bottom side 5, with for example three secondarychannels 18 extending from said distribution channel to the top side 3,and with a feed channel 15 extending to the bottom side 5. The bore axes13 are again arranged at right angles in relation to the center axis 9.Concentric receiving openings 244 extend with their axes aligned withthe bore axes 13 from the distribution channel 12 up to the bottom side5. The heating devices 35 are inserted in said receiving openings. Theheating device 35 projects in this connection through the receivingopening 244 and the distribution channel 12 and into the secondarychannel 18, whereby a device axis 245 of the heating device 35 extendsat a right angle in relation to the center axis 9. Within the zone ofthe secondary channel 18, the heating device 35 has a cylinder-shapedprojection 246 that forms the heating element 36. Said heating elementis limited in the direction of the top side 5 by a collar 247. Thetransmission element 31 forming the moving element 11 is concentricallyarranged around the projection 246, said transmission element 31 beingformed by the cover 32 having the chamber 92. A rapidly evaporatingliquid is again contained in the chamber 92, by which the cover 32 isexpanded when the temperature is increased by means of the heatingelement 36 and the liquid in the chamber 92 is evaporated, and therebyseals the secondary channel 18. The heating devices 35 are controlledindividually, for example via the common plug 76 and the line 50 which,for example, is realized in the form of a bus-line. The distributionchannel 12 is again sealed by the closing element 40.

FIG. 26 shows another embodiment of the control element 1 as defined bythe invention, in particular a pneumatic valve 2 with a secondarychannel 18, a feed channel 15, and an exhaust channel 16. The movingelement 11, which again has the sealing elements 22 on the collars 20,is pneumatically actuated in this connection via the further controlelements 1, in particular via the pre-control valves 248. The dampingelements 249 are located arranged on the faces 19 of the collars 20.

The pre-control valve 248 is inserted, in particular screwed into thedistribution channel 12 from the side surface 6, and has a feed channelextending, for example at a right angle in relation to the center axis9, and a secondary channel 18 extending with its axis aligned with thecenter axis 9. A heating device 35 is inserted in said secondarychannel, said heating device having a bolt-shaped heating element 36around which the moving element 111 in the form of a transmissionelement 31 is concentrically arranged. Said moving element 11 consistsof a cover 32 with a chamber 92, in which again a rapidly evaporatingliquid is contained which, in the expanded state, seals the feed channel15 and/or the secondary channel 18.

FIG. 27 shows another design variation of the control element 1 asdefined by the invention. The moving element 11 arranged in thedistribution channel 12 again has a plurality of collars 20 forming ordefining the receiving grooves 56 for the sealing elements 22. Onesealing element 22 is in each case arranged adjacent to a pre-controlvalve 248 as it was described by way of example in connection with FIG.26. The moving element 11, in particular two faces 19 facing away fromeach other, are spaced from one another by the spacing 29, wherebyanother receiving groove 56 for a sealing element 22 is arranged atabout half of the spacing 29, said additional sealing element 22establishing either a flow connection between the secondary channel 18and the feed channel 15, or between the secondary channel 18 and theexhaust channel 16.

Spaced from the collars 20 defining said receiving groove 56 by, forexample an identical spacing 250, the moving element 11, in particularthe intermediate elements 26 have the locking grooves 251 thatconcentrically extends around the center axis 9. For example in eachswitching position of the moving element 11 in which a flow connectionis established between the secondary channel 18 and the exhaust channel16, a locking element 252 of a holding and/or locking device 59 is inengagement with the locking groove 251 located adjacent to the exhaustchannel 16, thereby preventing the moving element 1 from carrying out anautomatic relative movement due to the different pressure conditions inthe distribution channel 12. The locking grooves 251 are spaced from oneanother by a distance 253 measured parallel with the center axis 9, saiddistance being formed by the sum of twice the distance 250 and a width254, by which the collars 20 of a receiving groove 56 are spaced fromeach other.

The holding and/or locking devices 59 have the center axes 255 extendingat right angles in relation to the center axis 9 and at right angles tothe top side 3, said center axes 255 being spaced from each other by awidth 256 that is halved, for example by the bore axis 13 of thesecondary channel 18. The width 256 is dimensioned in this connection insuch a way that it approximately corresponds with the distance 253 ofthe two locking grooves 251 less a height of lift 257 of the movingelement 11.

A holding and/or locking device 59 is shown in greater detail in FIG.28. As described above, the moving element 11 has one or several lockinggrooves 251 that can be engaged by the locking element 252 of theholding and/or locking device 59. The locking element 252 has acylindrical locking pin 258 that projects through a bore 259 arranged inthe control element 1, and reaches up into the distribution channel 12.Said bore 259 extends from a plane surface 260 of a recess 261 thatextends concentrically around the center axis 255, said recess reachingfrom the top side 3 up to the plane surface 260 and has an inside thread262 within the zone of the top side 3. The locking pin 258 is preferablyjoined as one single piece with a plate 263 extending concentricallyaround the center axis 255, said plate being arranged in the recess 261.A transmission element 31 and a means 30 are located in the zone betweena face 264 facing the plane surface 260 and extending parallel with thelatter, and the plane surface 260. The transmission element 31 has acover 32 enclosing the locking pin 258, said cover enclosing an innerspace 33 containing a high-boiling liquid. The means 30 is located inthis connection between the cover 32 and the plane surface 260. Aclosing element 265 is screwed into the inside thread 262 and has a face266 extending concentrically around the center axis 255, said face 266facing a face 267 of the plate 264 that extends parallel with the face264 of the plate 263 and is facing away from said face 264.

A spring element 268 is located in a zone that is defined by the face266 of the closing element 265 and the face 267 of the plate 263. In thedirection of the moving element 11 arranged in the distribution channel12, said spring element exerts a spring force on the plate 263 and thuson the locking element 252, so that the latter is pressed either intothe locking groove 251 or against a surface 269 of the moving element 11arranged in the distribution channel 12. Now, if the locking element 252abuts the surface 269 and when the moving element 11 arranged in thedistribution channel 12 is displaced along the center axis 9, thelocking pin 258 engages the locking groove 251 and the moving element 11is preventing from an automatic relative movement.

Now, when the mobility of the moving element 11 is to be restored, thehigh-boiling liquid contained in the interior space 33 of the cover 32is heated via the means 30, which causes the volume of the liquid toincrease and the cover 32 to expand, so that a force of pressure is thenexerted on the face 264 of the plate 263 and the latter is moved in thedirection of the closing element 265 against the force of the springelement 268. The relative movement of the moving element 11 results in alateral offset between the locking pin 258 and the locking groove 251.Since the volume of the cover 32 is increased only for a very shorttime, the locking pin 258 is pressed against the surface 269 when thevolume of the high-boiling liquid contained in the inner space 33 isreduced, i.e. when said liquid cools, and in this process causes thesurface 269, i.e. the moving element 11 from sliding off the locking pin258, in particular off a point 270.

FIG. 29 shows another design variation of the holding and/or lockingdevice 59. Instead of the transmission element 31 with the cover 32shown in FIG. 28, said holding and/or locking device has a piezo-element271 that is arranged between the plane surface 260, the recess 261 andthe face 264 of the plate 263 and is connected with an energy source.

Now, when the locking pin 258 is to be removed from the locking groove251, an electric voltage is applied to the piezo-element 271, whichcauses the volume of said piezo-element to change and the plate 263 tobe moved against the spring force of the spring element 268 in thedirection of the closing element 265. When the piezo-element 271 isdead, it assumes again its original volume and the locking element 258is moved via the spring element 268 either against the surface 269 ofthe moving element 11 arranged in the distribution channel 12, or intothe locking groove 251. When the locking pin 258 rests against thesurface 269 and when the moving element 11 is moved in the distributionchannel 12 along the center axis 9, the locking pin 258 is caused by thespring element 268 to engage the locking groove 251 and the movingelement 11 is retained in the desired position.

FIGS. 30 and 31 show another embodiment of the control element 1 asdefined by the invention, which is defined by the top side 3, the bottomside 5, the side surfaces 6, the back side 64 and the front side 157. Asecondary channel 18 with a bore axis 13 extends from the top side 3 inthe direction of the bottom side 5. Said bore axis 13 may be alignedwith, for example another bore axis 13 of another secondary channel 18that extents from the bottom side 5 in the direction of the top side 3.Both secondary channels 18 feed into a distribution channel 12 that hasa surface 88 that extends at a right angle in relation to the bore axes13 and parallel with the top side 3 or the bottom side 5. Anothersurface 88 is located spaced from said first surface 88 in the directionof the top side 3 by the channel height 87. A feed channel 15 extendsfrom the back side 64 up to the distribution channel 12. A movingelement 11 is present in the distribution channel 12. Said movingelement is realized in the form of an elastically deformable diaphragm272 having, for example the sealing layers 163 on the top sides 162facing the surfaces 28. The openings 91 of the secondary channels 18,which are located in the zone of the surfaces 88, are associated withthe top side 162 and the sealing layers 163. The diaphragm 272 isconnected with a closing element 40 preferably in a torsionally rigidmanner, and said closing element has a threaded section 41 that isarranged in a female thread 44. Furthermore, the closing element 40 hasa face 273 extending parallel with the side surface 6. The diaphragm 272has a stretched length measured from the face 273 parallel with thesurface 88 that is greater than the length 90 of the distributionchannel 12 measured from the face 273 parallel with said length.

The coils 174, which are realized, for example in the form of the flatcoils 274, are located in the distribution channel, in particular in thezone of the surfaces 88. Said flat coils have the lines 50 that extend,for example from the distribution channel 12 to the back side 64 of thecontrol element 1. Furthermore, the flat coils 274 have the openings274′ that preferably extend concentrically with the bore axes 13 andwith the openings 91, so that a flow path is made available by the flatcoils 274.

Now, when one of the two flat coils 274 is supplied with current via theline 50, the diaphragm 272 is deformed in the direction of the flat coil274 to which current is admitted, whereby the sealing layer 163 effectsa sealing of the respective secondary channel 18, which causes themedium—which has not to be limited only to air—to be passed on from thefeed channel 15 to the other secondary channel 18. Due to the fact thatthe stretched length of the diaphragm 272 is greater than the length 91,the elasticity of the diaphragm 272 generates a component of force inthe direction in the direction of the opening 91, against which thesealing layer 163 is pressed and thus seals said opening. Now, when theother opening 91 is to be sealed, high-intensity current or high voltageis admitted briefly to the other flat coil 274. This generates amagnetic force or an electrostatic force that is directed against theoriginal component of force, and the diaphragm 272 is moved in thedirection of the other opening 91. Since the stretched length is greaterthan the length 90, the diaphragm 272, upon exceeding a dead point,snaps to the other opening 91 and seals the latter with the sealinglayer 163. As mentioned before, it is of course possible to use alsoother media instead of air.

Another design variation of the holding and/or locking device 59 isshown in the jointly described FIGS. 32 to 34. The moving element 11 isrealized here in the form of a lifting piston 140 that is arranged in alifting piston receptacle 276 that is arranged in the control element 11and extends preferably cylindrically around a lifting piston axle 275.The lifting piston axle 275 extends in this connection, for example at aright angle in relation to the surface 88 of the distribution channel12. Within the zone of the surface 88, the lifting piston receptacle 276has a seal seat 156 that has a sealing surface 277 extending in the formof a truncated cone. Said sealing surface extends rotation-symmetricallyaround the lifting piston axle 275 and is arranged conically tapering inthe direction of the surface 88 from a plane surface 278 of a liftingpiston bore 279 extending cylindrically around the lifting piston axle275, said plane surface 278 extending parallel with the surface 88.

The lifting piston bore 279 extends from the plane surface 278 in theopposite direction to the surface 88 up to a height 280 with a diameter281 that is larger than a sealing diameter 282 of the sealing seat 156disposed in the plane surface 278. The secondary channel 18 extends at aright angle in relation to the lifting piston axle 275 from the liftingpiston bore 279 to the back side 64. The bore axis 13 of said secondarychannel is spaced from the plane surface 278 by a spacing 283, saidspacing, for example, being smaller than the height 280. A guide bore284 extends cylindrically around the lifting piston axle 275 from theheight 280 to the top side 3 of the control element 1. Said liftingpiston axle 275 has a bore diameter 285 that is larger than the diameter281 of the lifting piston bore 279. A guide sleeve 286 is arranged inthe guide bore 284, said guide sleeve having an inside diameter287—measured parallel with the bore diameter 285—that is smaller thanthe bore diameter 285 and, for example smaller than the diameter 281.

A locking element 252 is arranged in the zone located between the guidesleeve 286 and the lifting piston bore 279. A bottom side 288 of thelocking element 252 facing the plane surface 278 is flatly abutting anannular surface 289 extending parallel with the plane surface 275, saidannular surface being formed by the guide bore 284. The bore diameter285 of the latter, as mentioned before, is greater than the diameter 281of the lifting piston bore 279. An ring surface 292 defining the guidesleeve 286 in the direction of the distribution channel 12 is abutting atop side 291 of the locking element 252, said top side facing away fromthe bottom side 288 and being spaced from said bottom side by athickness 290 in the opposite direction to the surface 88. Said ringsurface 292 is spaced from a ring surface 293 of the guide sleeve 286 bya sleeve height 294 in the Opposite direction to the distributionchannel 12, said ring surface 293 facing away and extending parallelwith said ring surface 293. The ring surface 293 is spaced from the topside 3 by a depth 295 in the direction of the distribution channel 12.

A projection 296 extending cylindrically around the lifting piston axle275 engages a cylindrical zone formed by the depth 295 and the borediameter 285. Said projection protrudes beyond an inner side 297 of acover plate 298 in the direction of the distribution channel 12, saidinner side facing the top side 3. The projection 296 has an inwardmolding 299 in which the means 30, in particular the heating device 35is arranged, the latter being connected with torsional strength with atransmission element 31 formed by the cover 32. The cover 32 projects inthis connection beyond the heating device 35 or the ring surface 293 ofthe guide sleeve 286 in the direction of the distribution channel 12.The locking element 252 has an outside diameter 300 that correspondswith the bore diameter 285 of the guide bore 284. Said locking elementfurthermore has an inside diameter 301 that is smaller than the outsidediameter 300. The inside diameter 301 defines an inner face 302extending concentrically around the lifting piston axle 275. The slots303 arranged in the form of a star around the lifting piston axle 275extend from the inner face 302. Said slots are spaced from one anotherby an angular offset 304. The slots 303 have a slot depth 305 measuredfrom the inner face 302 in the direction of the guide sleeve 286. Saidslot depth is selected in such a way that the sum of twice slot depth305 and the inside diameter 301 is not greater than the outside diameter300 of the locking element 252. The slots 303 form the spring projection306 that are thus arranged around the lifting piston axle 275 in theform of a star as well.

In a zone associated with the distribution channel 12, the liftingpiston 140 has a part in the form of a truncated cone, with a conejacket 143 extending rotation-cylindrically around the lifting pistonaxle 275, and with a cylinder jacket 142 that is arranged in theopposite direction from said cone jacket in the direction of thedistribution channel 12. A cylindrical projection 307 extends from thecone jacket 143 in the direction of the distribution channel 12. Saidprojection 307 has a projection diameter 308 that is smaller than thesealing diameter 309 that defines the sealing surface 277 in the zone ofthe surface 88. The cylinder jacket 142 has a jacket diameter 144 thatis larger than the sealing diameter 282, but smaller than the diameter281 of the lifting piston bore 279. The cylinder jacket 142 is definedin the opposite direction to the distribution channel 12 by a planesurface 310. Spaced from said plane surface 310 by a width 311 measuredparallel with the lifting piston axle 275 in the opposite direction tothe distribution channel 12, the lifting piston 140 has a locking collar312 extending concentrically around the lifting piston axle 272. Saidlocking collar is defined by a collar diameter 313 that corresponds, forexample with the jacket diameter 144. Within the zone of the width 311,a connecting element 315 extends between the plane surface 310 and acollar surface 314 facing said plane surface. Said connecting elementhas a diameter 316 that is smaller than the collar diameter 313 and theinside diameter 301 of the locking element 252.

Furthermore, the lifting piston 140 has a guide piston 317 extendingcylindrically around the lifting piston axle 272. Said guide piston isconnected with the locking collar 312 via an intermediate element 318,and said guide piston has on an outer side 319 a sliding element 320that slides off along the inner side of the guide sleeve 286. Atransmission element 31 formed by the cover 32 is again located in thedistribution channel 12. Thermal energy can be admitted to saidtransmission element via a means 30. Now, when a flow connection has tobe established between the distribution channel 12 and the secondarychannel 18, the transmission element 31 arranged in the distributionchannel 12 and formed by the cover 32 is thermally acted upon andexpands, which causes the outer surface 34 of the cover 32 to come intocontact with the projection 307, and the lifting piston 140 to be movedin the opposite direction to the distribution channel 12. In thisprocess, the cone jacket 143 moves away from the sealing surface 277,which opens a flow channel in the zone of the surface 88, said flowchannel being formed by the difference between the sealing diameter 309and the projection diameter 308. The locking collar 312 issimultaneously pressed against the bottom side 288 of the lockingelement 252, which causes the spring projections 306 to be elasticallypressed in the opposite direction to the distribution channel 12 untilthe inside diameter 301 has reached the size of the collar diameter 313and the locking collar 312 is sliding off on about the inner face 302 ofthe locking element 252 in the opposite direction to the distributionchannel 12 until the collar surface 314 is spaced from the ring surface292 in the opposite direction to the distribution channel 22.

Once the lifting piston 140 has reached said position, the springprojections 305 spring back into their original positions and the topside 291 of the locking element 252 is approximately located in oneplane with the collar surface 314. This prevents an automatic relativemovement of the lifting piston 140 in the direction of the distributionchannel 12. Now, when the flow channel between the distribution channel12 and the secondary channel 18 has to be closed, the heating device 35located in the projection 296 is heated, so that the transmissionelement 31 formed by the cover 32 and connected with the heating device35 is expanded and presses the guide piston 317 in the direction of thedistribution channel 12, which causes the locking collar 312 to beforced in the direction of the distribution channel 12, with the effectthat the spring projections 306 are moved in the direction of thedistribution channel 12 and the cone jacket 143 will finally sealinglyrest against the sealing surface 277.

The jointly described FIGS. 35 to 37 show another embodiment of thecontrol element 1 as defined by the invention. The control element 1 hasa housing part 321 that is detachably or undetachably connected withanother housing part 322 in the inner surfaces 323, 324 facing eachother. In the opposite direction to the housing part 322, the housingpart 321 is defined by an outer surface 325 extending parallel with theinner surface 323, said outer surface being spaced from the innersurface 323 in the opposite direction of the housing part 322 by ahousing part depth 326. The housing parts 321, 322 have the centerplanes 327 328 that are arranged at right angles in relation to theinner surface 323 and at right angles in relation to each other. Thezone of intersection of the two center planes 327, 328 forms a centeraxis 329. The housing part 321 has an attachment 330 extendingconcentrically around the center axis 329 in a zone facing away from theouter surface 325. Said attachment is defined by an attachment diameter331 that defines on the outside an attachment surface 332 extendingconcentrically around the center axis 329. An inward molding 333 extendscircularly around the center axis 329 extends from the attachmentsurface 332 in the opposite direction relative to the center axis 329.Located in a plane that is disposed at a right angle in relation to thecenter axis 329, said inward molding has a face 334 that is spaced froma plane surface 336 of the attachment 330 by a molding depth 337 in thedirection of the outer surface 325, said plane surface defining theattachment surface 332 in the opposite direction relative to the outersurface 325 and extending parallel with said outer surface. Said inwardmolding 333 is defined by an inner surface 338 in the opposite directionrelative to the center axis 329, said inner surface extendingconcentrically around the center axis 329 and facing the attachmentsurface 332, and extending over a molding diameter 339 concentricallyaround the center axis 329. The housing parts 321, 322 have a housingpart height 340 and a housing part width 341. The molding diameter 339is in this connection smaller than the housing part height 340 or thehousing part width 341, which, for example, have the same dimension. Achannel 8 extends along the center axis 329, whereby the center axis 329forms the bore axis 13 of the channel 88, the latter being realized as asecondary channel 8. The latter has the connection thread 14 in the zoneof the outer surface 325. A sealing element 336 is arranged in the zoneof the plane surface 336, said element preferably extendingconcentrically around the center axis 329.

The housing part 322 has an outer surface 343 that extends from theinner surface 324 spaced by a housing part depth 342 in the oppositedirection relative to the housing part 321 and parallel with the outersurface 325. Furthermore, said housing part has an inward molding 344extending rotation-symmetrically around the center axis 329, saidmolding having a first face 345 extending at a right angle in relationto the center axis 329, and being spaced from the inner surface 324 by aface depth 346 in the opposite direction relative to the housing part321. Said first face is bound by a inner surface 347 in the oppositedirection in relation to the center axis 329, said inner surfaceextending-rotation-symmetrically around the center axis 329, said innersurface 347 extending over a first molding diameter 348 concentricallyaround the center axis 329. The first molding diameter 348 correspondsin this connection with the molding diameter 339 of the molding 333located in the housing part 321. The molding 344 has a second face 349extending parallel with the first face 345, said second face beingspaced from the first face 345 in the opposite direction relative to theinner surface 324 by a face depth 350 in the direction 350 in thedirection of the outer surface 343. Said second face 349 is defined byan inner surface 351 that has a second molding diameter 352concentrically extending around the center axis 329, said second moldingdiameter being smaller than the first molding diameter 348, and beingarranged concentrically in relation to the first molding diameter andconcentrically with respect to the center axis. The channels 8 extendfrom the outer surface 343 up to the second face 349, and their boreaxes 13 extend parallel with the center axis 329 and at right angles inrelation to the outer surface 343. The bore axes 13 are disposed in ahole circle 353 extending concentrically around the center axis 329,with a hole circle radius 354 measured from the center axis 329. Onechannel 8 is realized in this connection as a feed channel 15 whose boreaxis 13 is disposed, for example in the center plane 327. The otherchannel 8 is realized, for example as an exhaust channel 16 whose boreaxis 13 is spaced from the bore axis 13 of the feed channel 15 by anangle 355 of, for example 60 degrees. In the zone of the outer surface3.43, said channels 8 again have a connection thread 14.

Furthermore, the housing part 322 has a deepening groove 356 thatprojects from the second face 349 in the direction of the outer surface341. The deepening groove 356 has a groove depth 357 measured at a rightangle in relation to the second face 349, and it is arranged in the formof a circle around the center axis 329, whereby it has a circular centerline 359 extending around the center axis 329 with a radius 358. In theend zones, the deepening groove 356 extends in the form of a semi-circlewith the center points 360, which are disposed on the center line 359and are spaced from each by the angle 355 as well.

An inner space is created by the inward molding 333 of the housing part321 and the inward molding 344 of the housing part 322. Said interiorspace contains, for example two moving elements 11 rotatably arrangedtherein as the rotational bodies 362, 363, whereby for example therotational body 362 is associated with the housing part 322 and therotational body 363 with the housing part 321. The rotational body 362has an attachment 364 that has a plane attachment surface 365 that isfacing the second face 349, and which defined by an attachment diameter366 that defines an attachment jacket surface 367 extendingconcentrically around the center axis 329. The attachment jacket surface367 projects in the opposite direction of the second face 249 of theplane attachment surface 365 by an attachment length 368 in thedirection of the housing part 321 and is defined by a plane surface 369extending parallel with the plane attachment surface 365.

The rotational body 362, furthermore, has a distribution channel 370that consists of a longitudinal groove 371 arranged in the zone of theplane attachment surface 365, and a bore 372. The longitudinal groove371 is realized in the form similar to an oblong hole and has two centeraxes 374, 375 that are spaced from one another by a length 373, wherebythe center axis 375 forms at the same time a bore axis 376 of the bore372, which in turn coincides with the bore axis 13 of the secondarychannel 18 arranged in the housing part 321. The length 373 of thelongitudinal groove 371 corresponds in this connection with the holecircle radius 354 of the channels 8 arranged in the housing part 322.The longitudinal groove 371, furthermore, is bound on the outside by asealing element 22.

Facing away from the plane surface 369 and extending parallel with thelatter, the rotational body 362 has another plane surface 377 that isspaced from the plane surface 369 by a width 378 in the direction of thehousing part 321. The plane surface 377 has a cylindrical deepening 379that is arranged eccentrically in relation to the center axis 329.Furthermore, the plane surface 377 is overtopped in the direction of thehousing part 321 by an attachment 380 extending cylindrically around thecenter axis 329. Said attachment has a plane attachment surface 381disposed in a plane disposed at a right angle in relation to the centeraxis 329, said plane attachment surface 381 being spaced from the planesurface 377 by an attachment length 382 in the direction of the housingpart 321. Furthermore, the plane attachment surface 381 is defined by anattachment jacket surface 383 extending concentrically around the centeraxis 329 and being defined by an attachment diameter 384. Said diametercorresponds in this connection with the attachment diameter 331 of theattachment 330 of the housing part 321. The plane surfaces 369 and 377are defined by a face 385 extending concentrically around the centeraxis 329, said face 385 extending around the center axis 329 with a facediameter 386. Furthermore, in the opposite direction in relation to thecenter axis 329, the face 385 is overtopped by the tooth-shapedprojections 387. The latter are spaced from one another by 90 degrees,so that the rotational body 362 has a total of four tooth-likeprojections 387.

The face 385 and the inner surface 347 of the inward molding 344 of thehousing part 322 define an intermediate space 388 extending circularlyaround the center axis 329. The means 30 and the transmission element 31formed by the covers 32 are arranged in said intermediate space. Themeans 30 are preferably undetachably connected with a ring-shaped basicbody 389 that concentrically extends around the center axis 329, andhave the heating surfaces 390 facing the rotational body 362, saidheating surfaces being overtopped by the covers 32 in the direction ofthe center axis 329. Six heating elements 36, for example, are combinedto form a heating device group 391, whereby four of such heating devicegroups 391 are present in the interior space 361. A chamber 92 of thecover 32 is associated in each case with one heating element 36. Onechamber 92 is offset in this connection from an adjacent chamber 92 byan angle 392, which, for example, amounts to 10 degrees. For example onecover 32 having six chambers 92 is combined in each case to form atransmission element group 393, whereby the chambers 92 of saidtransmission element group 393 correspond with the heating elements 36of the heating device group 391 associated with said transmissionelement group.

The transmission element groups 393 and thus also the heating devicegroups 391 are arranged in relation to each other in such a way thatviewed clockwise, a first chamber 92 of a first transmission elementgroup 393 is spaced from a first chamber 92 of the second transmissionelement group 393 by an angular offset 394 of 92.5 degrees. The layoutis the same with the first chambers of the third and fourth transmissionelement groups 393. The first chamber 92 of the fourth transmissionelement group 393 is offset from the second chamber 92 of the firsttransmission element group 393 by the angular offset 394 as well. Oneprojection 387 of the rotational body 362 is associated with eachtransmission element group 393.

Now, when the flow path from the feed channel 15 to the secondarychannel 18 is to be changed in such a way that a flow path is madeavailable between the exhaust channel 16 and the secondary channel 18,the longitudinal groove 371 of the distribution channel 370 has to bemoved into a position in which it coincides with the exhaust channel 16.

For this purpose the rotational body 362 is put into rotation clockwisearound the center axis 329. This is accomplished in that the firstchamber 92 of the first transmission element group 393, i.e. thehigh-boiling liquid contained in said chamber is now thermally actedupon by means of the heating element 36 associated with that chamber.This causes the cover 32 defining said chamber 92 to expand and to exerta force of pressure on the flank 395 defining the projection 387. Thisthen turns the rotational body 362 clockwise, for example by 2.5degrees, with the effect that the projection 387 associated with thesecond transmission element group 393 is moved by 2.5 degrees as well,with the result that the first chamber 92 of the second transmissionelement group 393, i.e. a center axis of said chamber 92 has an angle of2.5 degrees in relation to a center axis of the second projection 387.

Now, when the liquid contained in the first chamber 92 of the secondtransmission element group 393 expands, the projection 387 associatedwith said chamber is acted upon by a force of pressure that moves therotational body 362 by 2.5 degrees, so that the third projection 387 hasan angular offset of 2.5 degrees with respect to the first chamber ofthe third moving group. Upon expansion of the first chamber 92 of thethird transmission element group 393, said angular offset is increasedto 5 degrees, so that the fourth projection 387, in the non-expandedposition, has an angular offset of 2.5 degrees as well in relation tothe first chamber 92 of the fourth transmission element group 393, whichis increased then to 5 degrees when said first chamber 92 of the fourthtransmission element group 393 is expanded. This, then, in turn causesthe first projection 387 to be moved by 2.5 degrees, so that saidprojection then has an angular offset of 2.5 degrees in relation to thesecond chamber 92 of the first transmission element group 393. This nowmakes it possible for the rotational body 362 to be rotated in each caseby a fraction of the angular offset 394, whereby a pin 396, the latterovertopping the plane attachment surface 356 in the direction of thebasic housing part 322, and being arranged in the deepening groove 356,is moved on in the deepening groove 356 that is forming a stop, so thatwhen the distribution channel 370, in particular the longitudinal groove371, is in a position coinciding with the exhaust channel 16, anyfurther rotational motion of the rotational body 362 is prevented.

For the purpose of rotational motion of the rotational body 362,anti-clockwise, i.e. for restoring the flow connection between thesecondary channel 18 and the feed channel 15, another rotational body363 is arranged in the inner space 361. Said rotational body has adriver pin 397 that projects into the rotational body 362. Said secondrotational body 363 also has the means 30 and the transmission elements31 formed by the covers 32 as described above, which, however, functionin the reverse direction. The rotational body 363 has a bore 398arranged rotation-symmetrically in relation to the center axis 329. Saidbore has a bore diameter 399 that is larger than the attachment diameter331, whereby an intermediate space is arranged between the attachmentdiameter 331 and the bore diameter 399. Said intermediate space contain,for example a sliding bearing 400 that is supported both on theattachment 380 and on the attachment 330. Furthermore, the housing parts321, 322 have the line ducts 401, via which the lines 50 lead from themultiple plug 241 to the basic body 389, in which, for example theconductor paths 134 (not shown) are arranged that lead to the individualheating elements 36 of the individual heating device groups 391. Ofcourse, the values for the angle 392 or the angular offset 394 or forthe number of the chambers 92 of the transmission element group 393 aswell as for the number of the projections 387 can be selecteddifferently.

FIG. 38 is a schematic representation of a controlling device 402 for amedium-actuated consumer 403, in particular for a pneumatic cylinder404. The pneumatic cylinder 404 is designed, for example as adouble-action medium-actuated cylinder and has the two mediumconnections 405, from which the connection lines 406, in particular thecompressed air lines 407 lead to the secondary channels 18 of thecontrol elements 1. The feed channels 15 of the control elements 1 are,for example, combined to form a common medium feed line 181. The latteris connected with a pressure source 408, for example a compressor. Theexhaust channels 16 of the control elements 1 are, for example, combinedto form a common medium exhaust line 182 as well, whereby the medium isexhausted into the environment, for example via a sound damper 409. Theholding or locking devices 59 as well as the pre-control valves 248, inparticular their heating devices 35 are connected via the lines 50 orthe conductor paths 134 (shown by dashed lines) to a controlling unit410, for example a microprocessor. The latter controls the controlelements 1 as required for the purposes or functions of the consumer403, whereby the control elements 1 or the controlling unit 410 can bedirectly integrated in the medium connection 405, so that the connectionlines 406 as well as the lines 50 or the conductor paths 134 can beomitted.

However, the pneumatic cylinder 404 can be designed also in such a waythat a cylinder jacket 411 has the internally extending medium channels412 that extend, for example from a connection zone 414 on the faceside, to an inner zone 414 defined by the cylinder jacket 411. Theconnection zone 413 contains, for example a control element group 415that is formed by one or a plurality of the described control elements1, and which has the central connections 416 for the feed air and theexhaust air. Said connections are in turn connected to the medium feedline 181 and the medium exhaust line 182.

The jointly described FIGS. 39 and 40 show another embodiment of thecontrol element 1 as defined by the invention. Said control elementconsists of a basic body 97 that has the closing elements 40 on the sidesurfaces 6. The closing elements 40, furthermore, have the cylindricalprojections 417 extending preferably concentrically around the centeraxis 9. Said projections have the end surfaces 418, which are acing eachother and which extend parallel with each other and parallel with theside surfaces 6. The end surfaces 418 are overtopped by anelectromagnetic element 419 in directions facing one another, saidelement 419 being line-collected via the lines 50 or the conductor paths134 with a coupling device 131 arranged in the closing element 40. Themoving element 11 has the permanent-magnetic elements 420 on the faces19 facing away from each other, said elements 420 having the outsidediameters 421 and the inside diameters 422 extending concentricallyaround the center axis 9. The outside diameter 421 corresponds in thisconnection, for example with a projection diameter 423 that extendsconcentrically around the central axis 9, said projection diameter alsodefining the electromagnetic element 419. The inside diameter 422defines an inner face 424 of the permanent-magnetic element 420, saidface extending concentrically around the center axis 9 and beingarranged at a right angle in relation to the face 19. The inner face 424and the face 19 and a contact surface 425 defining the electromagneticelement 419 in the opposite direction relative to the projection 417define an inner zone 426. Now, when the moving element 11 is to bedisplaced along the center axis 9, current is admitted to anelectromagnetic element 419 via the lines 50 or conductor paths 134 andto the coupling device 131, and an electromagnetic force is exerted onthe permanent-magnetic element 420 that is facing said electromagneticelement 419. This attracts the moving element 11 and a detachableconnection is made on the contact surface 425. Now, when the movingelement 11 is to be moved in the other direction, the otherelectromagnetic element 419 exerts an electromagnetic force on the otherelectromagnetic element 420 facing said electromagnetic element 419.What is achieved in this connection by means of the inner zone 426 isthat after the feed of current has been cancelled, thepermanent-magnetic element 420 will not longer adhere to theelectromagnetic element 419 due to electromagnetic attraction, so thatthis connection can be easily cancelled and mobility of the movingelement 11 is made possible in the other direction.

Of course, the individual variations and details described herein can berealized in the form of standardized components that can be assembled toproduce a modular entity. It is made possible in this way, for exampleto produce valve blocks with field bus connections, as they are offeredin the market by manufacturers of pneumatic equipment at the time of thepresent application. In particular, the switching modules and, ifnecessary, the control modules for producing the valve blocks can beformed by using pneumatic distributor strips and/or electric distributorrails, as this has been described in detail in DE 30 42 205 C3 by thesame Applicant. The content of said patent is wholly incorporated hereinby reference as a disclosure of the present application.

For the sake of good order it is finally pointed out that for thepurpose of better understanding of the structure of the control element1, the latter or its components are partly shown untrue to scale and/orenlarged and/or scaled down.

Most of all, the individual embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 40 may formthe object of independent inventive solutions as defined by theinvention. The respective problems and solutions are disclosed in thedetailed descriptions of said figures.

List of Reference Numerals

1 Control element

2 Pneumatic valve

3 Top side

4 Height

5 Bottom side

6 Side surface

7 Length

8 Channel

9 Center axis

10 Guide device

11 Moving element

12 Distribution channel

13 Bore axis

14 Connection thread

15 Feed channel

16 Exhaust channel

17 Spacing

18 Secondary channel

19 Face

20 Collar

21 Deepening

22 Sealing element

23 Inside diameter

24 Spacing

25 Channel diameter

26 Intermediate element

27 Diameter

28 Collar diameter

29 Spacing

30 Means

31 Transmission element

32 Cover

33 Inner space

34 Outer surface

35 Heating device

36 Heating elements

37 Heating resistor

38 Distance

39 Receptacle

40 Closing element

41 Threaded section

42 Outside diameter

43 Core diameter

44 Female thread

45 Surface

46 Projection

47 Projection diameter

48 Projection length

49 Front surface

50 Line

51 Hexagonal receptacle

52 Spacing

53 Monitoring element

54 Approximation switch

55 Distance

56 Receiving groove

57 Spacing

58 Holding groove

59 Holding and/or locking device

60 Inner surface

61 Inner side

62 Surface

63 Spacing

64 Back side

65 Housing

66 Jacket

67 Face parts

68 Width

69 Width

70 Opening

71 Wave energy source

72 Wave generator

73 Microwave generator

74 Axis

75 Connection line

76 Plug

77 Threaded bore

78 Length

79 Back surface

80 End length

81 Spacing

82 Deepening edge

83 Distance

84

85

86 Jacket line

87 Channel height

88 Surface

89 Side surface

90 Length

91 Opening

92 Chamber

93 Main blocking element

94 Width

95 Width

96 Bus-plug

97 Basic body

98 Additional body

99 Collecting element

100 Width

101 Transverse plane

102 Longitudinal plane

103 Opening

104 Deepening

105 Inner surface

106 Groove depth

107 Inner side surface

108 Groove width

109 Sealing element

110 Height

111 Outer side

112 Connection opening

113 Connection thread

114 Base plate

115 Width

116 Longitudinal plane

117 Length

118 Transverse side surface

119 Longitudinal side surface

120 Bottom side

121 Height

122 Top side

123 Longitudinal plane

124 Transverse plane

125 Spacing

126 Spacing

127 Face element

128 Face height

129 Face

130 Coupling receptacle

131 Coupling device

132 Plug socket

133 Line

134 Conductor path

135 Motherboard

136 Coupling projection

137 Coupling element

138 Plug element

139 Line

140 Lifting piston

141 Sealing section

142 Cylinder jacket

143 Cone jacket

144 Jacket diameter

145 Diameter

146 Cone part

147 Bar

148 Spacing

149 Collard

150 Collar diameter

151 Tie rod

152 Threaded section

153 Opening

154 Spring element

155 Dish element

156 Sealing seat

157 Front side

158 Multi-layer element

159 Element

160 Base plate

161 Recess

162 Top side

163 Sealing layer

164 Layer

165 Layer

166 Sealing surface

167 Spacing

168 Release

169 Deformation zone

170 Bending edge

171 Base plate thickness

172 Hydraulic valve

173 Intermediate element length

174 Coil

175 Spacing

176 Inside diameter

177 Outside diameter

178 Distribution section

179 Sealing partition

180 Medium main line

181 Medium feed line

182 Medium exhaust line

183 Distance

184 Spacing

185 Groove

186 Groove bottom

187 Inner surface

188 Bolt

189 Bolt length

190 Bolt diameter

191 Recess diameter

192 Recess

193 End zone

194 Depth

195 Bearing element

196 Sliding bearing bush

197 Transverse bridge

198 Circumferential bridge

199 Height

200 Width

201 Groove side

202 Intersection edge

203 Surface

204 Axis spacing

205 Inward molding

206 Plane of symmetry

207 Surface line

208 Inward molding depth

209 Spacing

210 Height

211 Segment

212 End edge

213 Spacing

214 Spacing

215 Lateral offset

216 End edge

217 Stop

218 Stop surface

219 Face

220 Alignment

221 End edge

222 Flange plate

223 Outer surface

224 Deepening groove

225 Groove width

226 Groove depth

227 Spacing

228 Distance

229 Spacing

230 Contact element

231 Contact bridge

232 Groove bottom

233 Inner bore

234 Outer surface

235 Bore depth

236 Flange thickness

237 Bore diameter

238 Line element

239 Line

240 Coupling device

241 Multiple plug

242 Contact element

243 Coupling device

244 Receptacle opening

245 Device axis

246 Projection

247 Collar

248 Pre-control valve

249 Damping element

250 Spacing

251 Locking groove

252 Locking element

253 Distance

254 Width

255 Center axis

256 Width

257 Stroke

258 Locking pin

259 Bore

260 Plane surface

261 Recess

262 Inside thread

263 Plate

264 Face

265 Closing element

266 Face

267 Face

268 Spring element

269 Surface

270 Point

271 Piezo-element

272 Diaphragm

273 Face

274 ′ Flat coil

274 Opening

275 Lifting piston axis

276 Lifting piston receptacle

277 Sealing surface

278 Plane surface

279 Lifting piston bore

280 Height

281 Diameter

282 Sealing diameter

283 Spacing

284 Guide bore

285 Bore diameter

286 Guide sleeve

287 Inside diameter

288 Bottom side

289 Ring surface

290 Thickness

291 Top side

292 Ring surface

293 Ring surface

294 Sleeve height

295 Depth

296 Projection

297 Inner side

298 Cover plate

299 Inward molding

300 Outside diameter

301 Inside diameter

302 Inner face

303 Slot

304 Angular offset

305 Slot depth

306 Spring projection

307 Projection

308 Projection diameter

309 Sealing diameter

310 Plane surface

311 Width

312 Locking collar

313 Collar diameter

314 Collar surface

315 Connecting element

316 Diameter

317 Guide piston

318 Intermediate element

319 Outer side

320 Sliding element

321 Housing part

322 Housing part

323 Inner surface

324 Inner surface

325 Outer surface

326 Housing part depth

327 Center plane

328 Center plane

329 Center axis

330 Attachment

331 Attachment diameter

332 Attachment surface

333 Inward molding

334 Face

335

336 Plane surface

337 Molding depth

338 Inner surface

339 Molding diameter

340 Housing part height

341 Housing part width

342 Housing part depth

343 Outer surface

344 Inward molding

345 Face (first)

346 Face depth

347 Inner surface

348 (first) molding diameter

349 (second) face

350 Face depth

351 Inner surface

352 (second) molding diameter

353 Hole circle

354 Hole circle radius

355 Angle

356 Deepening groove

357 Groove depth

358 Radius

359 Center line

360 Center point

361 Inner space

362 Rotational body

363 Rotational body

364 Attachment

365 Plane attachment surface

366 Attachment diameter

367 Attachment jacket surface

368 Attachment length

369 Plane surface

370 Distribution channel

371 Longitudinal groove

372 Bore

373 Length

374 Center axis

375 Center axis

376 Bore axis

377 Plane surface

378 Width

379 Deepening

380 Attachment

381 Plane attachment surface

382 Attachment length

383 Attachment jacket surface

384 Attachment diameter

385 Face

386 Face diameter

387 Projection

388 Intermediate space

389 Basic body

390 Heating surface

391 Heating device group

392 Angle

393 Transmission element group

394 Angular offset

395 Flank

396 Pin

397 Driver pin

398 Bore

399 Bore diameter

400 Sliding bearing

401 Line channel

402 Controlling device

403 Consumer

404 Pneumatic cylinder

405 Media connection

406 Connection line

407 Compressed air line

408 Pressure source

409 Sound damper

410 Controlling unit

411 Cylinder jacket

412 Media channel

413 Connection zone

414 Inner zone

415 Control element group

416 Connection

417 Projection

418 End surface

419 Element

420 Element

421 Outside diameter

422 Inside diameter

423 Projection diameter

424 Inner face

425 Contact surface

426 Inner zone.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pressure fluid control valve comprising (a) avalve body having (1) a distribution channel and (2) at least twofurther channels, the further channels leading to the distributionchannel, and (b) at least one elastically deformable element arranged inat least one of said channels, the element having (1) an elasticallydeformable bladder completely enclosing a liquid which evaporatesrapidly upon heating and (2) means for heating the liquid to cause theliquid to evaporate rapidly, the element assuming a first position withthe liquid filling the interior space and a second position with theevaporated liquid expanding the interior space to open and closecommunication between respective ones of the further channels and thedistribution channel.
 2. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 1,further comprising at least one moving element arranged in thedistribution channel, the at least one elastically deformable elementtransmitting a sliding movement to the at least one moving element whenit changes from the first to the second position whereby the at leastone moving element opens and closes the communication between thefurther channels and the distribution channel.
 3. The pressure fluidcontrol valve of claim 2, wherein the moving element is a piston.
 4. Thepressure fluid control valve of claim 3, wherein the piston has at leastone sealing element.
 5. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 2,wherein two of said moving elements are slidable in the distributionchannel in relation to each other.
 6. The pressure fluid control valveof claim 2, wherein the moving element comprises a bolt extendingthrough a bore in the moving element.
 7. The pressure fluid controlvalve of claim 6, wherein the bolt has grooves extending concentricallyabout a center axis of the bolt and axially spaced from each other, andfurther comprising contact elements arranged in the grooves.
 8. Thepressure fluid control valve of claim 7, wherein the contact elementshave contact bridges projecting into an inner bore of the bolt, andfurther comprising a flange plate closing one end of the distributionchannel, a multiple plug arranged on the flange plate and line elementsconnecting the contact bridges to the multiple plug.
 9. The pressurefluid control valve of claim 8, further comprising contact elementsarranged on an inner surface of the flange plate for contacting theheating means.
 10. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 1, whereinthe heating means is a heating device arranged in the interior space.11. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 1, wherein the heatingmeans is a heating device arranged on an outer surface of the bladder ofthe elastically deformable element.
 12. The pressure fluid control valveof claim 1, wherein the heating means is a heating device comprised ofat least one heating resistor.
 13. The pressure fluid control valve ofclaim 1, further comprising a closing element closing one end of thedistribution channel and being detachably mounted in the valve body withtorsional strength, the elastically deformable element being connectedto the closing element.
 14. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 1,wherein a respective one of the elastically deformable elements isarranged in the distribution channel adjacent an opening of a respectiveone of the further channels leading to the distribution channel, theopening being open in the first position of the elastically deformableelement and being closed in the second position thereof.
 15. Thepressure fluid control valve of claim 1, wherein a respective one of theelastically deformable elements is arranged in a respective one of thefurther channels, and the heating means is a heating device projectingfrom the distribution channel into the further channels.
 16. Thepressure fluid control valve of claim 1, wherein the heating means is asource of wave energy.
 17. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 1,wherein the elastically deformable element is arranged in a groove inthe distribution channel.
 18. The pressure fluid control valve of claim17, further comprising at least one moving element having concavemoldings. arranged to face the groove, the moving element being actuatedby the elastically deformable element.
 19. The pressure fluid controlvalve of claim 1, further comprising at least one moving elementarranged in one of the channels, the moving element being actuated bythe elastically deformable element, and a locking device for the movingelement.
 20. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 19, wherein themoving element has locking grooves engaged by locking elements of thelocking device.
 21. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 20,wherein the locking elements have locking pins enveloped by the bladderof the elastically deformable element and having a plate spacing theelastically deformable element from a spring element.
 22. The pressurefluid control valve of claim 21, wherein the plate spaces apiezo-element from the spring element.
 23. The pressure fluid controlvalve of claim 14, wherein the heating means is a heating devicearranged on the locking device and extending concentrically around acenter axis thereof, the heating device consisting of a plurality ofheating elements arranged successively in a circumferential direction ofan inner surface of the distribution channel, the interior space of theelastically deformable element being associated with the heatingelements.
 24. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 1, wherein thechannels form a grid in the valve body, the channels having openings ina top side of the valve body, further comprising at least one collectingelement covering the openings and the collecting elements having atleast one connection opening.
 25. The pressure fluid control valve ofclaim 24, wherein the connection opening reaches to a groove in thecollecting element.
 26. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 1,wherein the heating means is a heating device comprising a base plateand heating elements arranged on a top side of the base plate.
 27. Thepressure fluid control valve of claim 26, wherein the base platecomprises a face element having at least one coupling receptacle of acoupling device.
 28. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 27,further comprising lead lines leading from the coupling receptacle tothe heating elements and forming conductor paths in the top side of thebase plate.
 29. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one moving element arranged in at least one of thechannels, the moving element being a piston arranged in at least one ofthe further channels and actuated by the elastically deformable element,the piston having a sealing selection formed by a cone jacket andassociated with a sealing seat arranged in the further channel.
 30. Thepressure fluid control valve of claim 29, wherein the piston has a tierod defined by the elastically deformable element, and the tie rodprojects through a spring element biasing a dish element connected tothe tie rod.
 31. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 30, whereinthe elastically deformable element in the second position thereof exertsa pressure force on a collar connected to the piston, the pressureforced being exerted in a direction opposite to the biasing force of thespring element.
 32. The pressure fluid control valve of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one moving element arranged in one of the channels,the moving element being a piston actuated by the elastically deformableelement, and a locking element engaging a locking collar on the pistonfor the same, the locking element having slots arrange in the form of astar around an axis of the piston and the slots being spaced from eachother by spring projections.